FIVB DEV Top Volley Manual Eng

Volleyball Clinic Staff
Gold Medal
Volleyball
Gold Medal Volleyball Drills
Drills
ISBN 1-878602-88-8
Sports
Sports 91 600
Support
Support
Coaching Staff of the

Syndicate
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Gold Medal Coaches Clinics
Gold Medal Volleyball
Drills
By the Faculty of the
Gold Medal Volleyball Clinics
The authors include:
Andy Banachowski, Doug Beal,

Laurel Brassey, Greg Giovanazzi,
Karolyn Kirby, John Kessel, Liz Masakayan,
Mary Jo Peppler, Russ Rose, Brad Saindon,
Al Scates, Don Shaw, Mary Wise
The Sports Group Inc.

Published by the
Sports Support Syndicate, Inc.
Volleyball Drills page 1

Gold Medal Volleyball Drills
First edition, first printing
© 1994 by The Sports Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in
any form without permission.
The Sports Group Inc.

66 Alford Circle, Concord, MA 01742
phone: 508-371-0503
fax: 508-371-0541
For permission for re-print, reviews, and research,

write to the publisher:
Sports Support Syndicate

108 South 12th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203-1226 USA
office: 412-481-2497
orders: 800-869-0758
fax: 412-481-2540
The drills developed by Al Scates are from Winning Volleyball

Drills, Second Edition, and are used through the courtesy of Wm.
C. Brown Communications, Inc.
Cover photo and page 6 photo by Don West Fotografiks, PO Box

1752, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.
The authors, publisher, and sponsors of this book assume no lia-

bilities for the information contained herein. All recommenda-
tions are intended for trained, professional coaches and players
in structured programs.
ISBN: 1-878602-88-8
page 2 Gold Medal Volleyball

Contents
Fundamental Drills 12
Beal’s Individual Passing..........................................................13
Forearm Passing From a Toss ..................................................15
Two-Person Passing...................................................................16
Pass Into a Corner ......................................................................17
Front-Set to a Corner .................................................................18
Back-Set to a Corner ..................................................................19
Pass and Follow..........................................................................20
Passing Circle .............................................................................22
Two-Person Setting from a Toss ..............................................24
Two-Person Setting....................................................................25
Three-Person Setting .................................................................26
Set and Follow Triangle ............................................................28
Two Set Circle.............................................................................30
Three in the Back Court ............................................................32
Dig to Yourself Pepper..............................................................33
Alternating Pepper ....................................................................34
Two-On-Two Pepper Over the Net.........................................36
Setting in a Corner from a Passer ............................................37
One-on-One Over a Net/Rope ................................................38
Juggle ...........................................................................................39
Defense Progression ..................................................................40
Four-Corner Setting ...................................................................41
Setting From Area Six (two balls) ............................................43
Mock Block and Set....................................................................44
Block and Set...............................................................................44
Alternate Forward and Back Sets ............................................46
Triangle Passing .........................................................................47
Four Corner Setting ...................................................................48
Over-the-Net Pepper .................................................................50
Run Through (Run Throughs) ...............................................52
Drill of 15.....................................................................................54
Front/Back Setting.....................................................................55
Two-Person Passing Contest ....................................................56
Triple Pepper ..............................................................................57
Set in a Triangle..........................................................................58
Defensive Drills 59
Defense for Setters .....................................................................60
Circle Drill #1 .............................................................................63

Three-on-Three Deep Court Exchange ...................................64
Dig by Position ...........................................................................65
Coverage Pepper ........................................................................66
The Circuit...................................................................................68
Team Coverage...........................................................................70
Two vs. Six ..................................................................................72
Outside Hitters vs. Partial Defense .........................................74
Quick Attack Defense................................................................75
Two Coaches vs. Six Players ....................................................76
Five Position Digging ................................................................78
Team Situational Defense/Transition.....................................80
Rapid–Fire Serve/Receive ........................................................82
Under-the-Net, Loose-ball, Recovery......................................84
Four-Person Defense .................................................................86
Acceleration ................................................................................88
Blocking Drills 90
Blocking Progression .................................................................91
Three Person ...............................................................................93
Repetitive Blocking ....................................................................95
Repetition Blocking with Movement ......................................96
One vs. Three: Middle Blocker.................................................97
One-on-One Repetitive Blocks .................................................98
Rapid Block .................................................................................99
Brassey Blocking ......................................................................100
Middle Attack/Block...............................................................102
Blocking with a Moving Partner/The Shadow ...................104
Attacking Drills 105
Spike Against the Far Away Wall .........................................106
Repetition Hitting ....................................................................107
Dig and Hit ...............................................................................108
Dink to the Target ....................................................................109
Rapid–Fire Spiking ..................................................................110
Hole in the Block ......................................................................111
Wipe-Off Shot ...........................................................................112
High Flat Shot...........................................................................114
Left vs. Right.............................................................................116
Three Hitters vs. Two Blockers ..............................................118
Three Player Attack from Defense ........................................120
Call the Shot..............................................................................121
One Blocker vs. Three Attacker .............................................122
Attack and Switch ....................................................................123

Four-On-Four Deep Court Exchange....................................124
Middle vs. Middle....................................................................126
Middle Hitter Wash .................................................................128
Pass, Set, Hit, — Warm-up Hitting .......................................130
Left-Side Attack........................................................................131
Error Correction (Deep Court Game) ..................................132
Rose’s Repetitive Hitting ........................................................134
Hitting Around Chairs ............................................................135
Serving Drills 137
Server-Passer-Target................................................................138
Target Serving ..........................................................................139
Serve Under Elastic..................................................................140
Three Point Serving .................................................................141
Serve at Six ................................................................................142
Ten-Point Serving ....................................................................144
Serve Against The Wall...........................................................145
Serve and Dash.........................................................................146
Four (in) Before Two (outs) Serving......................................147
Brassey Serving ........................................................................150
Receive Serves Over a Net ......................................................151
Serve–Pass–Circuit...................................................................152
Target Serve ..............................................................................154
Live Action Drills 156
Dig, Set, Hit...............................................................................157
Twelve Person Exchange ........................................................159
Three vs. Three at the Net.......................................................160
Serve/Receive to Attack .........................................................161
Attack from Serve/Receive ....................................................163
Two-Passer Attack from Serve/Receive...............................164
Five-on-Six ................................................................................165
Left-Side Attack vs. Left-Side Defense..................................166
Sideout/Down Ball/Free Ball ................................................167
Five-on-Five Bongo..................................................................168
Around the World ...................................................................170
Four-on-Four Square ...............................................................172
Sequence....................................................................................174
Vortex.........................................................................................176
Perpetual Serve/Receive (Short-Deep).................................178
Block-Pass-Hit-Shag ................................................................180
One vs. One...............................................................................182

Key for Better Understanding of
the Drill Diagrams and Jargon
C = Coach or Feeder
F = Feeder
B = Blocker
H = Hitter
S = Setter
Server = RB
P = Passer
T = Target
R = Retriever (often called Shagger)
A = Attacker or Hitter or Spiker
D = Defender or Passer or Digger
LF = Left Front
MF = Middle Front
RF = Right Front
LB = Left Back
MB = Middle Back
RB = Right Back or Server
W = Waiting player
P1 = Player One—but not numbered in any par-
ticular order of importance
P2 = Player Two—but not numbered in any par-
P3 = Player Three—but not numbered in any par-
Solid line = players path
Dashed line = path of ball
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. = progression of action

Beal’s Individual Passing Drill(s)
Purpose: These individual passing drills are introductory
and for learning forearm passing.
Personnel: The drills can often be performed by one per-
son in a team setting or alone.
Objective: The drills allow for many repeated contacts in a
short period of time.
Goal: Continue this drill for a specific time or number of
contacts, say, 25.
Explanation: Pass the ball continuously to oneself, not
allowing the ball to get any higher than five-feet above the
head.
Coaching Tips: Flex slightly at the knees and the waist at
contact.
Variation: Alternate a low, 6-inch pass with a high, 5-foot
pass.
Variation: Pass continuously to yourself, turning 90
degrees after each contact. Pass the ball no higher than 5-
feet above your head.
Variation: Pass continuously to yourself, squatting and
touching the floor with your hand after each pass. Keep
the height of the pass to a maximum height of 5-feet above
your head.
Variation: Mark out a 5-foot square. Pass the ball continu-
ously to yourself while staying within the limits of the
square. Control the height of the ball.

When to Use: This drill and its variations are best used
when a player is learning the skills. They can be per-
formed at the beginning of practice, or they can be part of
a progression before any team passing drill is attempted.
After a player has some proficiency with the passing skill,
the drills can be used as a review.
Author/Contributor: Doug Beal

Forearm Passing From a Toss Drill
Purpose: This drill is for practicing forearm passing in a
controlled setting. It permits one person to practice with-
out being concerned about his or her partner’s ball con-
trol.
Personnel: Two players.
Equipment: One ball.
Explanation: One player is a tosser and stands at the net
and tosses the ball to a partner/passer. The passer is 10 to
20 feet away from the tosser. The passer forearm passes
the ball back to the tosser.
Goal: The completion of the drill can be based on time, say
2-minutes, or it can be based on a specific number of con-
tacts.
Coaching Tip: The success of the drill requires that the
tosser make accurate tosses.
Variation: After passing, the passer moves two-steps left,
then two-steps right and returns to the starting point to
pass the next ball. Later, have the player’s initial move go
the other direction.
Variation: After passing, the passer shuffles two steps back
then two steps forward.
Variation: After passing, the passer does a roll.
When to Use: These are beginning drills. As with the set-
ting drills, they are best used at the beginning of practice.
They can be combined with the setting drills to develop a
ball control progression.

Two-Person Passing Drill
Purpose: Drill allows a great number of contacts in a short
period of time to improve ball control.
Goal: Completion of the drill can be based on time or a
specific number of contacts.
Description: Players should be separated by 15 to 20 feet
and pass the ball back and forth to each other.
Coaching Tip: The players should concentrate on good
body position, having their feet stationary at contact, and
on shifting their weight forward at contact. The trajectory
of the ball should be the same with each pass: no higher
than 10 to 12 feet above the court.
Variation: Pass to yourself, turn 90 degrees to the left, then
pass to your partner who does the same. Later, turn to the
other direction.
Variation: Pass to yourself, turn 180 degrees, then pass
over your head to your partner who does the same.
Variation: Pass to yourself. Do four 90-degree turns pass-
ing to yourself after each turn. Then pass to your partner.
Variation: Pass to yourself, then pass low to your partner.
When to Use: These are basic drills and may be performed
by players at any skill level. They are best scheduled at
the early part of a practice session.

Pass Into a Corner Drill
Purpose: To practice passing when alone.
Equipment: A ball and a wall.
Personnel: Lone player.
Initiation of Play: Self-action.
Description: With the corner in front of you and to your
right, throw a ball off the wall in front of you so it
rebounds back as if it was being served near or at you.
Move to the ball, and pass it with “settable” ball flight into
the corner, as if to the Setter. Get the ball and do it again.
Contributor/Author: John Kessel

Front-Set to a Corner Drill
Purpose: Practice setting on your own.
Equipment: A ball and a wall.
Description: Throw the ball off the wall to your left side,
90 degrees or so, so that it rebounds back at you as if it
were coming in from a passer. You can work on low passes
that you need to scoot under, higher passes that you could
even jump set, or angled standard ball flight passes that
you might need to move to. Get in position and set any
kind of set you want to the front. Gather in the ball off the
front wall and throw it again, and again.
Initiation: Self-action.

Back-Set to a Corner Drill
Purpose: Practice back-setting and ball-handling when
alone.
Description: This is the same as the Front-Set Into a Corner
Drill, but with a back-set. Stand with the wall behind you
and to your left, and back-set the ball behind you. Turn
and gather the ball up and throw it off the wall to you left
again, and again. For setting lower sets, like a meter ball,
stand with your back closer to the back wall, any distance
from the wall to your left. The farther from the left wall,
the more time you’ll have to react to the incoming pass.

Pass and Follow Drill
Purpose: This drill combines a number of elements; in par-
ticular, players must work on quick movement to get into
position. It can be used as a conditioning drill because its
completion is open-ended.
Personnel: A minimum of three players
Description: There is one group of two players and then a
single player. The two-player group is separated by 15-to-
20 feet from the single player. P1 passes to P2, then P1
runs to the location of P2. P2 passes to P3, then P2 runs to
the location of P3. P3 passes to P1, then runs to that posi-
tion. The drill continues.
See the illustration on the next page.
Goal: The drill may be performed for time, total number of
contacts, or number of consecutive contacts without error.
When to Use: The drill is best used in the early part of a
practice. It can be one of many passing and setting drills
that emphasize ball control when the team is first warm-
ing up with the ball.

P
Setter
Setter
Setter

Passing Circle Drill
Purpose: This drill works on a number of elements. It is a
beginning serve/receive drill with players passing from
the LB and RB positions. The continuous movement of the
players introduces an element of conditioning.
Personnel: Ten to twelve players are needed, plus a coach.
Equipment: Three or more balls and a full-court.
Goal: Complete on time, number of contacts, or number of
contacts going to the target. Skilled teams can base com-
pletion of the drill on the number of consecutive passes to
the target.
Initiation of Play: The coach starts play. Tempo can be
worked on because the coach controls the pace of the drill.
Description: Start with four groups of players. Three play-
ers can be in each group. The groups are located in these
located as follows: LB; RB; Targets; and Retrievers.
The coach, standing 10 to 30 feet form the net on the
right side of the court, alternates playing the ball to the LB
and RB. The ball can be tossed or served. The players pass
the ball, then run to the rear of the target line. The Target,
after catching the ball, runs with the ball to the rear of the
retriever line. After the retriever hands the ball to the
coach, the hander runs to the rear of either passing line.
The retriever goes to fill in the shortest line of passers.
Rotation: Passer (either RB or LB) to Target to
Retriever/Handler to Passer, etc.
When to Use: This drill is best to use in the middle of prac-
tice. The players should have had some contacts prior to
the drill and be well warmed up.

P
Coach
Feeder Feeder Feeder
P
Target
Target
Target
Digger
Digger
Digger
Digger
Digger Digger

Two-Person Setting from a Toss
Drill
Purpose: Practice setting skills and setting accuracy.
Explanation: One person is near or at the net, while the
other person is deep in the court, on the same side of the
net. Their distance apart is determined by the variation of
the drill.
The player at the net tosses to the player sitting 10 feet
away who then sets the ball back to the tosser/target. The
player at the net catches the ball.
Variation: The Setter can stand or sit.
Variation: The tosser at the net bounces the ball to a player
15 feet away. This player moves to the ball and sets it back.
Bounce the ball so the setting player must move to the
ball.
Variation: Both players sit 10 feet apart and set back and
forth. As the players become proficient, increase the dis-
tance between the players.
Goal: Continue the drill for a specific time period or for a
number of contacts.
When to Use: Best if done at the beginning of practice. Can
be used as part of a warm-up.

Two-Person Setting Drill
Purpose: Practice ball control and foot movement while
overhead passing.
Description: One player is at the net while the second
player is deep in the court. Setting partners are separated
by 15-to-20 feet. This drill involves setting back-and-forth,
and involve some movement between contacts. Start by
setting the ball to yourself, 5-feet above your head, then
setting the ball to your partner who does the same.
Goal: Each variation may be performed for a set time or
number of contacts.
Variation: Set to yourself, turn 180 degrees, set yourself
again, turn another 180 degrees, then set your partner who
does the same. Or, turn 90-degrees between each contact.
Also, turn to the other direction and set over the shoulder.
Variation: Set to your partner, squat and touch the floor,
keeping your eyes on the ball. Be ready for the next con-
tact.
Variation: Instead of squatting and touching the floor,
move laterally two steps, then to the other side two-steps
and back to the starting position before the next contact.
Variation: Set your partner, do a roll, then return to your
starting position. Your partner returns the set then does
the same.
When to Use: Use this drill at the beginning of the practice
session and possibly as part of warm-up.

Three-Person Setting Drill
Purpose: This drill works on ball control, movement, and
team play. Communication among players is essential for
the correct execution of the drill.
Personnel: Three players.
Equipment: Two balls, half court.
Description: Two net players are 10 to 15 feet apart while
the third player is approximately 15 feet away. All players
are on the same side of the net. P1 tosses to P3 who sets it
back to P1. After setting the ball P3 moves laterally to face
P2 who has tossed a ball to P3, who then sets it back to P2.
P3 then returns to the starting point to set another ball
tossed by P1.
Rotation: Players rotate after a specific number of sets by
P3.
Variation: Use three players and one ball. The players form
a line 10-to-15 feet apart from each other. The player in the
middle, P2, sets to P1, P1 sets to P3, and P3 sets to P2, who
has turned to face P3. P2 returns the set to P3 who sets
across to P1, P1 sets to P2, and the cycle continues.
Another variation has the middle player making a back-
set.
Goal: The drill continues until a specific number of con-
tacts by P2, then the players rotate.
When to Use: Use as a part of group setting drills. Best if
used at the beginning of practice. The setting in a line is
more of an advanced variation.

Setter
2nd
1st & 6th
Setter
P
5th 3rd & 4th
Setter
P Setter
Setter
Setter

Set and Follow Triangle Drill
Purpose: This drill has more than one aspect. The move-
ment required develops conditioning. And since the drill
can present a group goal, this is a team drill. As always,
ball control is important.
Personnel: A minimum of four players.
Equipment: A ball and half the court.
Description: Start in a triangle with players in three cor-
ners from 10-to-30 feet apart. P1 sets the ball to P2, then P1
runs and gets in line behind P2. P2 sets the ball to P3, then
runs and gets in line behind P3. P3 sets the ball to P4, then
gets in line behind P4’s location. The drill can be done
with more players by distributing players evenly at the
corners.
Initiation: Start the drill with the corner with the two play-
ers.
Variation: More than one ball can be used to make the drill
more challenging.
When to Use: This drill can be used at any time in practice.
Use as part of a combination of setting drills at the start of
practice or in the middle of practice to change the tempo
of practice.

P2
P
P1
P3
P1 P4
P2 P
P3

Two Set Circle Drill
Purpose: Conditioning and ball control. A first step in
practicing team play, stressing good communication.
Personnel: The entire team.
Equipment: Two or more balls, full court.
Description: The team is divided into four groups. One
group is stationed at LB. The second is at the net, at the
setter position. the third group is a target at LF.
The coach tosses the ball over the net toward the LB.
The LB moves to the ball, sets to the Setter, and runs to the
setter line.
The Setter sets to the LF (the Target) and runs to the
target line.
The Target runs and hands the ball to the coach. After
handing the ball off, those players run to the LB line.
Goal: The drill can be practiced for a set time or a number
of consecutive, accurate sets.
Initiation: The coach tosses the ball over the net.
Variation: Permit the fist contact to be from RB, with the
Targets moved to RF.
Coaching Tip: Communication should be stressed, with
each player calling for the ball. In addition, the Setter and
Target should communicate to the person setting to them
by calling that person’s name or telling them where to set.
When to Use: This drill is an intermediate to an advanced
drill. It is best used after a team is well warmed-up,
toward the middle or end of a practice.

P C
PF2 F1
P
T2 T3
T1 S3 S2
S1
D1
D2
D3

Three in the Back Court Drill
Purpose: Ball control and intensity.
Personnel: A coach and three players.
Equipment: Numerous balls and half-court.
Description: The players are positioned at LB, MB and RB.
The coach hits from the center or RF. The coach starts play
by hitting the ball to one of the defenders. The defender
digs the ball to the position of the coach who immediately
attacks the ball again to a defender. The coach continuous-
ly attacks the ball to the defenders who dig it back to the
coach. The coach can attack with hard or off-speed shots.
Initiation of Play: Coach starts by hitting.
Goal: The defenders stay in the drill for a time or until a
specific number of balls have been dug.
Rotation: After the goal has been reached, a new group of
three players enters the drill.
Variation: Make the drill a dig and switch drill. After the
defenders dig the ball, they exchange positions with an
adjacent player. The LB and RB players switch with the
MB. After digging, the MB switches with the LB.
Variation: Require that the ball be set to the coach by one
of the three players after it is dug. For example, the RB sets
balls dug by the MB and LB. The LB sets balls dug by the
RB. This requires movement and communication.
A fourth player may be used to keep balls in the drill if
the balls go out of play.
When to Use: This is a middle-of-practice drills.

Dig to Yourself Pepper Drill
Purpose: Ball handling improvement when alone.
Coaching Tip: Every great defender digs the ball right up
to the Setter.
You need to do is give yourself a cushion, an area of
imperfection that still helps your teammates. This cushion
can be called a “good mistake,” rather than a “bad mis-
take.”
While this drill is not as game-like as digging to a
Setter, playing this drill with only two players is not as sat-
isfying either, as you can’t dig right back to the opposing
attacker. You certainly should not dig over the net.
To be known as a great digger, simply dig every ball
you can touch straight up.
Explanation: Start about 4-to-5 meters from your team-
mate, and move back to 7-to-9 meters away after you set
the ball. This lets your Attacker spike a more game-like
ball flight, and gives you more time to react to the hit. It
also teaches you to move forward and backward, some-
thing a good defender does well.
Initiation: Self-action.

Alternating Pepper Drill
Purpose: Controlling the ball with the underhand pass.
Explanation: Similar to the Dig to Yourself Pepper Drill,
but the goal is to dig back towards, but never all the way
back to the Hitter, who sets to the digger, who then
becomes the Hitter. Both players thus are moving forward
after hitting to set the dug ball, and then scooting back
after setting a high ball that gives enough time to distance
the digger from the Hitter.
You thus hit, then set, and then dig, before the cycles
starts again.
Goal: How many times in a row can you and your friend
do?
Coaching Tips: Traditional pepper teaches you to say
“sorry” when you do not hit right at a player. How often
after hitting do you want to say “sorry” to the opponents?
How often do you want to stop your arm swing so
that you do not blast the ball at your teammate. Don’t you
want to learn to hit fast and hard, by letting your arm
swing fully, not stopping it above your head, almost “serv-
ing” it?
Do you want to practice hitting the down at an angle
that would go into the net or blockers? Or, would you
rather hit the ball over the net and over the block?
Would you rather hit everything the way you are fac-
ing, or would you rather be more deceptive and hit cut
and line shots?
How often do you hit balls that are coming at you.
Most sets come from one side to your hitting zone.
Most skilled pepper players have learned how to move
less and less. Watch how skilled pepper players hardly
move their feet. In reality, you want to learn how to move
with ball control further and further.

What player wants to dig every ball straight back to
the Hitter so that the Hitter can blast you again and again,
rather than to dig the ball at an angle to your Setter.
Two-person pepper teaches players to simply move
very little while hitting over-passes into the net.
Initiation: A partner/player tosses the ball for the first
contact.

Two-On-Two Pepper Over the Net
Drill
Purpose: Warm-up, ball-control, ball handling.
Set-up: Divide the team into groups of 4 or 6. Divide the
court length-wise in half. Each group plays in a designated
half-court.
Initiation: The ball can be thrown in, served, or hit by a
coach to initiate the drill, depending on what the coach
wants to work on. If lots of contacts are wanted, simply
throw a ball into play immediately upon a ball going out
of play. If the coach wants some serve/receive work, have
players serve to a start the drill. If the coach wants some
digging work, hit the ball at the player to start the drill.
Play: Pass, set, hit. Exchange positions after the ball is
played over the net. For example: Ball is thrown to P1. P1
passes the ball to P2. P2 sets the ball back to P1. The set
ball is 5 feet off of the net. P1 hits the ball over the net to
P3. P1 and P2 exchange positions. P3 passes the ball to P4.
P4 sets to P3. P3 hits the ball over the net to P2. Players P3
and P4 exchange positions.
Teams of three players can be used to maximize player
involvement. Simply rotate off the court in sequence.
Teams of two players can be intermixed with teams of
three players so that any number of players on the squad
can be positioned on the court.
Players should strive to keep the ball in play, rather
than to put it away.
Contributor/Author: Brad Saindon

Setting in a Corner from a Passer
Drill
Purpose: To improve overhead passing skills.
Equipment: One ball and a corner made of two walls.
Description: This drill is like the corner game that can be
done alone, but here the drill is played with a teammate.
The partner passes the ball to you from all over the
imaginary court. You move to the ball and set it to the
front or behind you.
Initiation of Play: The player in the corner begins the
action by throwing the ball to the friend. The friend must
move and pass the ball back to the player in the corner.
The player in the corner sets the ball high and against one
of the corner walls. The player in the corner can handle the
ball by making either a front-set or back-set. Then the
player in the corner gets the set ball and throws for a pass
to react and the sequence repeats again and again.

One-on-One Over a Net/Rope
Drill
Purpose: Ball-handling, individual skills and crafty-deci-
sion making.
Equipment: You do not need a net, but you do need to
play over some obstacle at about net height. If there is a
shortage of nets, consider playing over soccer-goal cross-
bars.
The court size is shrunk down and only three-meters
deep. The width of the court can be any width of play.
Personnel: There are two players, one person per team.
This is not perfectly game-like, as you do not get to hit the
ball to yourself in a game, but hey, there is only one person
per team. Go for three hits anyway.
Coaching Tip: Learn to use the net as a teammate to recov-
er certain tough digs and give you time to get to the ball to
set yourself. Be sneaky, and hit anyway except the way
you are facing. A great player does not hit to the opposi-
tion, does not hit to the same place, and does not hit where
he or she looks.
Initiation of Play: Serve with a roll shot or an openhanded
tip. Do not toss the ball into play. Serve from anywhere
along the back-line of the mini-court.

Juggle Drill
Purpose: Ball handling and body control.
Personnel: One or more players.
Initiation of Play: Self initiation.
Explanation: Like soccer or hacky sack, learn to rebound
the volleyball off you head, thighs or knees—legal world-
wide since the end of the 1992 Olympics—shoulder, bent
elbow or “J” stroked arms. Learn to hit the ball cleanly, not
with a lift.
Goal: While you are at it, compete. See how many in a row
you can do without an error. You define what an error is.
Variation: See how many seconds or minutes you can train
without a mistake. Another option is to see how long you
can go without making two errors in a row. Most of us
make mistakes. The best players bounce back and correct
their errors on the next contact, or better the ball that
comes to them from the prior contact.

Defense Progression Drill
Purpose: Defensive fundamentals with a partner.
Personnel: Two players, but both players do not need to be
able to control the ball.
Description: One player is stationed at the net. The second
player is out on the court, approximately 20 feet away. The
second player starts in a defensive position. The first play-
er throws the ball toward the second player aiming at knee
height or lower. The player digs the ball back. Try to pass
the ball to the area between the 10-foot line and the first
player. The player near the net catches the ball and throws
another ball to be dug.
Rotation: After 10 throws, the players switch roles.
Initiation of Play: Player at the net throws the ball toward
the other player.
Variation: Instead of tossing the ball, hit the ball, still aim-
ing at knee height or lower.
Variation: Instead of catching the returned ball from the
digger, the player near the net sets the ball to him or her-
self and hits it again, following the self-set.
Coaching Tip: The Digger is always on the court, digging
toward the net, and the Attacker is always hitting from the
net area.
When to Use: This drill is for beginning skill levels. Best if
done at the start of practice or prior to a series of defensive
drills.

Four-Corner Setting Drill
Purpose: Practice setting high balls to the outside hitting
positions.
Personnel: Four players on each side of the net.
Initiation of Play: A back-row players sets the ball to a
front-row player.
Description: The players in the back court deliver a high
set to area 2 or 4; then the front court player delivers a
high set along the net before the ball is sent to the back
court again. The difficulty can be increased when the pass
to the back court causes the player in area 1 or 5 to dive,
roll, or sprawl before bump setting to the front court.
See the illustration on the next page.
Coaching Tips: Shape the hands to conform to the surface
of the ball or, put more simply, SHAPE. Bend the legs and
extend as the ball is released to set long distances.
Contributor/Author: Al Scates

Setter
Setter
P
Setter
Setter

Setting From Area Six (two balls)
Purpose: To train the MB player to set high to the corners
of the net.
Equipment: Two balls.
Personnel: Eight players.
Initiation of Play: Coaches send the balls to their first con-
tacts.
Description: Two
Target/players are
placed in the front
corners of the court
Target
by the net and two

Target
P
Setter
defender/players
are placed near the
endline and sideline.
Feeder
P Four players form a
line in area 6 by the
Feeder
endline and react to

Setter
S e t t eSr e t t e r
the balls the coaches
deliver to them. The
players call “mine”
and deliver a high set to one of the Target players and
return to the end of the line as the Target player quickly
sets a low ball back to the coach for continuous action. The
coaches control the intensity of the drill by first giving the
players balls they can set overhand and then increasing
the players’ range—causing them to bump set and finally
dive and roll to bump set the ball.
Coaching Tips: Get to the ball as quickly as possible and
set from a stationary position whenever you can.

Mock Block and Set Drill
Purpose: A lead-up drill for blocking.
Blo ck er
Target
Wait
P
Coach
Block and Set Drill

Purpose: To keep the eyes open while blocking to deter-
mine which way to pivot to go to the ball and set.
Description: The coach yells, “Block!” and the Area-2 play-
er attempts to block as the coach spikes the ball over the
player at the Area-1 digger. The Blocker returns to the
floor and sets the dig to the Target player in Area-4.
Equipment: A table, net, balls, court.

Personnel: Coach, feeder, digger, blocker/setter, and
Target player.
Initiation of Play: A verbal command comes from the
coach.
Coaching Tips: If your starting Setter is blocking, instruct
that player to tilt the wrists and fingers back to “soft
block” to prevent sprained or broken fingers. The soft
block also speeds up the drill as most spikes are deflected
to the Area-2 digger.
Variation: A spiker can be substituted for the Target player
and up to six defensive players can be added.
P
Coach
Blo ck er
Feeder
Target
Digger

Alternate Forward and Back Sets
Drill
Purpose: To practice setting wide to Area-2 and Area-4.
Initiation of Play: Coach tosses ball.
Description: The coach passes the ball to the Setter who is
moving toward the net form the backcourt. The Setters
alternate front and back sets and follow their set to the
sidelines to become a Target for following Setter. After
receiving a set, the Target player passes the ball to the
coach and returns to the backcourt to set again.
Coaching Tips: Start the drill with easy passes and then
vary the passes to simulate game conditions.
Equipment: Use two balls.
Personnel: This drill moves well with five Setters. If there
are only three Setters, the two Target people should be
non-practicing personnel. An odd number of Setters is
best because the Setter alternates front and back sets every
turn.
T T
S
C S
S

Triangle Passing Drill
Purpose: Allows for frequent passing contacts and encour-
ages serving ball-control.
Description: Start with two balls and three players: RB, T,
and P. RB and T have a ball at the beginning. The action
starts when RB tosses or serves to P and T bounces a ball
under the net to RB. Player P is the passer and concen-
trates only on passing the ball to the target with proper
technique. Player RB continues to back up and as the
Passer has more success the serve/toss is initiated from a
deeper position and is tougher to handle.
This drill is fast paced and allows for plenty of con-
tacts. The drill stresses ball control. The drill can be used
at the start of practice as a ball control warm-up or as a
passing drill.
Initiation of Play: RB tosses ball to P while T bounces
another ball back to RB.
Equipment: Full-court and two balls.
Contributor/Author: Greg Giovanazzi

Four Corner Setting Drill
Purpose: A setting drill for non-setters. Helps the back-
row hitters who occasionally have to make a set after a
bad pass.
Objective: The drill promotes ball control, decision mak-
ing, working together and vision for more than just the
ball.
Personnel: Five players at least.
Equipment: Half-court and ball.
Initiation of Play: Corner player at the net starts the action.
Description: The four players in the corners stay through-
out the drill. The line of three-to-five players in the MB
rotate depending on which side produces the ball first.
The ball is initiated from the corner players at the net.
Set to the player in the deep corner on the same side who
then sets the ball into the middle of the court.
The ball is set by the “S” players to the person on the
net on the side they received the ball from.
The S players must make a decision, a loud call “right”
or “left,” set and get back in line. The corners stay.
The coach says, “switch” and the S players become
Feeders and vice-versa.

P P
Feeder Feeder
Setter
Feeder
Feeder
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting
Waiting

Over-the-Net Pepper Drill
Purpose: Ball handling.
Personnel: Three players are in a group. This drill uses
three groups, for a total of nine players on one court.
Equipment: Full-court, three balls and re-positioned anten-
nae are optional.
P P
Setter
Setter
Setter

Action Progress: P1 passes to S1 (Setter).
Setter sets to 3-meter line.
P1 hits ball over the net to P2.
Meanwhile, S1 runs under the net to set for P2.
P2 digs to S1.
S1 sets to P2.
P2 hits the ball over the net to P1.
Drill repeats.
Coaching Tip: Count the continuous rallies. The Hitters
must jump for the hits to be counted. The Hitters must
turn and run to a defensive position which is about 20-feet
from the net.
Variation: You can move two antennas to the middle of the
net to divide the net into thirds. Then three different
games can be played at the same time, using all nine peo-
ple.
Goal: Play for 2-minutes, and get as a goal, 20 consecutive
peppers.
Variation: With a 4-person group, a second Setter can be
added. Then the Setters and Hitters can switch on their
own side after every hit.
Contributor/Author: Laurel Brassey

Run Through Drill (Run
Throughs)
Purpose: A warm-up drill.
Time Allotment: The drill lasts about 2-minutes.
Equipment: Ball, net and court.
Personnel: At least four players.
Initiation of Play: The coach tosses and hits deep shots to
either corner. The coach can alternate side-to-side or hit
either side randomly.
Explanation: Players must stay on their feet trying to run
through the ball. Later, as a variation, the players can be
allowed to go to the floor and roll.
Goal: Get 10 balls up to the target.
Variation: Move the position of initiation. The coach can
move. Or move the initiation point for the athletes.

P
Coach
(RETRIEVER)
Target
(RETRIEVER)
(RETRIEVER)
Digger
Waiting
(RETRIEVER)
Waiting Waiting

Drill of 15
Purpose: A ball control drill for every level.
This drill is a type of “Pepper” played across the net and
accentuates hitting-setting-digging accuracy.
Personnel: Ten-to-twelve players.
Explanation: Start with five-or-six players per side in the
LF, LB, and RF (Setting Position).
Initiation of Play: The ball is initiated by a coach alternat-
ing which team gets the ball first. The coach tosses the ball
to teams in an alternating manner.
Goal: The goal is to pass, set, hit with control. Strive to go
to 15 rallies as the goal. The attack can be full speed but
the emphasis is accuracy so that the drill can continue.
Coaching Tip: The coach announces the number of rallies
after each successful pass/set/hit. After each error that
accounts for the end of the rally, the coach initiates a new
ball.

Front/Back Setting Drill
Purpose: Setter movement, setting accuracy and decision
making.
Equipment: Half-court and balls.
Personnel: Coach and Setter.
Initiation of Play: Coach tosses ball to Setter and shouts
instructions.
Setters penetrate from RB or jump to block then go to the
normal setter’s position. Coach tosses the ball to the Setter
and just before the ball reaches the Setter, the coach calls
out, “front,” or, “back.” The Setters must get to the ball
quickly and get his or her hands up to achieve a balanced
(neutral) position and be able to set either direction.
Variation: Move the coach to different initiation points.
Variation: Have a player playing at the line as a passer.
Then have the coach initiate from the other side of the net
by tossing or serving to this line-passer. When the coach
tosses the initial ball, the coach can control the necessary
movement demands made upon the Setter and get great
area of coverage for successful play to continue.

Two-Person Passing Contest Drill
Purpose: To develop a competitive serving and passing
attitude by all team members.
Personnel: Four passers and two servers.
Equipment: Full-court and balls.
Initiation of Play: Server initiates play.
Description: Two passers start on each side of the net. The
two passers on the one side of the net compete against the
two passers on the other side of the net.
Goal: Player for a pre-determined number of good passes,
for example, 10.
Rotation: After a round is won, i.e. game to 10 points, the
two teams switch to the other side of the net. The passing
sides go to receive serves from the other players. Teams
keep a record of how many times they have won on the
court.
Time Allotment: Play for 20 minutes. Normally, go
through the entire team two times.
When to Use: After warming-up and to determine who
the team’s best passers and serves are. Also helps to dis-
cover how players work together to cover the entire court.
Coaching Tip: Each Server should keep a personal-run-
ning-score of aces and errors. The servers should also
watch to see how many team wins happen from one-side
of the net compared to the other side. A problem can occur
if one side continues to win all the matches.
Contributor/Author: Russ Rose

Triple Pepper Drill
Purpose: Ball handling improvement.
Equipment: This drill can be played without a net, or over
a net. If you have no net, make sure you are hitting the ball
to the digger with a ball flight that would have cleared the
net if it was there.
Explanation: The Setter stands halfway between the two
digger/hitters, to one or both sides. By both sides, the
Setter moves back and forth so that both diggers are dig-
ging to the same angle. If the setter/digging target stands
only to one side, in the example to the right of one hit-
ter/digger, the other hitter/digger will thus be practicing
digging to the left.
Coaching Tip: The Attackers need to hit the full 15 meters
to the digger. You can have one person do all the digging
and the other can do all the hitting. Or, randomize the
roles and have those two players alternate.
Maker sure the Attackers stay 9–15 meters apart, as
time goes on in this drill, the distance shrinks to about 5–6
meters. The 5-to-6 meter distance between Attacker and
Digger is too close and more like the distance found in the
classic pair pepper hitting distance everyone is comfort-
able with.

Set in a Triangle Drill
Purpose: To work on back-setting.
Personnel: Three players
Equipment: One ball, no net needed.
Explanation: Three players form a triangle. Move the ball
among the players in a clockwise direction. One of the
three players works on back-setting while the other two
players do overhead passes.
Variation: Send the ball in a counter-clockwise direction,
then all three of the players should be front-setting.
Notice that the back-setting player should be the person in
the triangle that is in the middle of the two shortest direc-
tions in the triangle. The players that border the long-arm
of the triangle should front-set.

Defense for Setters Drill
Purpose: To get two-player teamwork and communication
occurring.
Equipment: Net and ball.
Personnel: Two players and a coach. A bail-out target is
optional and could play as a Retriever or Target.
Initiation of Play: Coach hits or tips a ball to the right side
of the court.
Description: Setters play RF and RB. See the diagram.
Coach hits or tips to the right side. If the RF player
digs then RB steps in to set, RF can hit if desired. If RB
digs, then RF sets to LF or back-row to RB.
Look to the following two pages for descriptive illus-
trations of possible combination to this drill.
Time Allotment: Play for 2-minutes. Switch positions.
RB
RF
T
PC

RB
RF T
PC

RB
RF
PC

Circle Drill #1
Purpose: This drill is a full-team, conditioning drill where
the coach sets the tempo. It involves plenty of communica-
tion.
Personnel: The entire team is used.
Equipment: Two or more balls.
Description: Players are divided into three groups equal in
number. One group sets, the second group acts as targets,
and the third group hands the ball to the coach.
The coach begins the drill by bouncing a ball to the
middle of the court. A player comes from LB and sets the
bounced ball to the Target. After setting the ball, the player
gets in the target line.
The Target player catches the ball and runs and gets in
the line of Feeders. After handing the ball to the coach, the
Feeder runs and gets in the line of Setters.
Goal: The drill can be done for time, number of sets, num-
ber of accurate sets, or number of consecutive accurate sets
without error.
Initiation of Play: The coach bounces a ball to the middle
of the court.
Variation: Have players run in from the RB and set to the
LF.
Coaching Tip: Using two balls will create a slower tempo
than using four. Have extra balls near the target line so
that players can grab a new ball rather than retrieve after a
ball out of control.
When to Use: For this drill to be effective an intermediate
level of ball control is required. It is a drill best used in the
middle of practice, after a team is sufficiently warmed-up.

Three-on-Three Deep Court
Exchange Drill
Purpose: This is a defensive drill that permits practice in a
game-like situation.
Personnel: Whole team and coach.
Equipment: Full court.
Initiation of Play: Coach tosses the ball onto the court to a
passer.
Description: The team forms three lines on the end of the
court. The first person in each line goes to the far side of
the court. The next player in line step into the near court.
The coach tosses the ball to the team in the near court.
The team of three in the near court plays the ball out and
attacks at the team on the far court. The ball is kept in play
similar to a triples game.
The attacks must be behind the 10-foot line. The game
can also be modified to require that the ball be hit beyond
the opponent’s 10-foot line.
Rotation: If the far-court team wins the rally, it stays on the
court and the near-court trio goes to the end of the line. If
the near-court team wins the rally, then it goes to the far
court and the far-court team goes to the end of the line on
the near court.
Goal: This drill can be done for time with teams switching
continuously. It can also be done in the form of a “wash”
drill where a trio has to win a number of rallies in a row
(for example, two) in order to determine a winner.
When to Use: This is an end of practice drill. Rewards can
be given to players who play in the groups that win the
most rallies.

Dig by Position Drill
Purpose: Drill works on ball control from the player’s
defensive position.
Equipment: Many volleyballs, table for the coach.
Personnel: Line of players, coach, Setter.
Description: The players are divided into three groups
based on their defensive positions. The groups are LB, MB
and RB. The coach hits repeatedly from the same side of
the net at the defenders, or from a table on the opposite
side of the net. If a table is used, great care should be taken
to protect both the players and the coach on the table from
injury. Ensure that the table is padded or far enough away
from the net to keep it out of the way of the players.
The drill starts with the LBs. The coach hits a ball at
the first player in line. The LB defender digs the ball to the
Setter and moves to the end of the line. The next defender
quickly moves onto the court, and the coach hits another
ball. The drill proceeds rapidly with the coach hitting and
the players digging. Players quickly move to the end of
the line after digging.
Goal: The drill proceeds until a minimum number of balls
have been dug. It can be made more challenging by only
counting the balls that go directly to the target (the Setter).
Rotation: After the LBs reach their goal, then the MBs
begin the drill. The drill proceeds until all three groups
have played defense.
Variation: A player can dig two consecutive balls (one
hard attack and one off-speed attack) before moving to the
end of the line.
When to Use: This drill should be used in the later part of
practice. Author/Contributor: Doug Beal

Coverage Pepper Drill
Purpose: Attack coverage is an important team skill. This
drill allows for practice of the defensive technique without
needing a full team.
Personnel: A coach and a minimum of four players. One
or two additional players act as retrievers.
Equipment: A low table is useful, plus balls and the net. It
should be mentioned that great care should be used when
a table is part of a drill. The table should be of such a
height that the arm position of the Blockers should be sim-
ilar to the height of the competition block. The table
should be long enough to allow the Blockers to move. The
table should also be padded or away from the net so as to
minimize the possibility of injury.
Initiation of Play: The coach hits the ball off the block.
Description: Two players stand on the table and act as
Blockers. They stand next to one another with their hands
penetrating over the net. The coach stands on the other
side of the net to one side of the block. The other two play-
ers, P1 and P2, stand to the other side of the block.
The coach hits the ball off the block so that it deflects
onto the coach’s side of the court. P1 and P2 play the ball
off the block.
One player plays the ball, while the other player sets
the ball to the coach. The coach can vary the pace of the
ball hitting hard or easily off the block.
P1 and P2 adjust to the position of the coach in order
to dig each ball.
Goal: The two defenders stay in the drill for time or until a
goal is reached. The goal can be total number of balls
played or until a consecutive number of balls are played.

Rotation: The four players rotate once the goal is reached.
When to Use: This drill is for the middle of practice. It can
be combined with another drill where this drill is per-
formed on one side of the court while the second drill is
performed on the other side.
Blo ck er
Blo ck er
P
Coach
Digger
Digger

The Circuit Drill
Purpose: To develop cardiovascular endurance. To devel-
op defensive techniques.
Explanation: The drill starts with P1 and P2 jumping up at
the net and touching hands. As soon as P1 comes down,
the coach tosses a short ball behind P1. P1 must come
down, roll and get the ball back up. P1 gets up, runs to the
left corner of the court and digs a top-spin spike from the
coach. Then, running to the opposite corner, C2 tosses a
ball and P1 must accelerate and get it up to C2. After the
dig, P1 continues to the weak side of the court, S tosses a
set and P1 hits the ball. The drill ends after five rotations
around the court.
W1 does the same routine but waits until the dig is
made in the corner.
Rotation: Three players go through the circuit at the same
time while the rest of the team retrievers balls.
When to Use: Use at the end of practice.

P 6th & 7th
C2
5th
4th&
C1
2nd & 3rd
W1
8th P P1
P 1st
S
P2
9th

Team Coverage Drill
Purpose: This drill allows a team to practice attack cover-
age and work on offense from coverage.
Personnel: Optimally, the drill requires 11 players and a
coach. Modifications can be made so that the drill can be
performed with fewer players.
Initiation of Play: The coach tosses the ball over the net to
the team in serve/reception position.
Description: One team of six players begins in
serve/reception formation on one side of the net. On the
other side of the net are Blockers. Two Blockers are put at
the LF position and two Blockers are put at the RF posi-
tion. Feeders are behind each double-block.
The coach starts the drill by tossing a ball over the net.
The attacking team passes, sets, then attacks. The receiving
team covers the attack.
If the ball is blocked, the receiving team plays the ball
up and attacks again. If the ball is not blocked, then the
tosser (or coach) tosses a ball over the block or under the
net at the block so that the coverage can play the ball and
attack again.
Goal: The goal of the drill is to successfully attack from
both reception and coverage.
Rotation: After a minimum number of successful attacks
from coverage and reception, the receiving team can
rotate. Players can be rotated from blocking and tossing
positions to the receiving team.
When to Use: The drill is an advance drill best used in the
latter part of practice. Beginning teams can use the drill,
but, the pace of the drill and the conditions for success
should be reasonable.
PC
F F
B B B B
LF MF RF
S
LB RB

Two vs. Six Drill
Purpose: This drill provides practice in defense against an
outside attack.
Personnel: The whole team.
Initiation of Play: The coach tosses a ball to the Setter.
Description: On one side of the net are six players. This is
the defending team. On the other side of the net are the
coach and groups of Attackers at the LF and the RF.
The drill begins when then coach tosses a ball to the
Setter. The Setter sets either Attacker The Attacker hits the
ball and the defense attempts to dig the ball and run an
attack.
When the defending team attacks the ball, and the ball
passes the block, the coach can immediately toss a new
ball to the Setter starting the process again.
The Attacker can vary the pace of the attack by hitting
hard or off speed.
The pace of the drill is controlled by the coach. The less
time between the attack and the toss, the quicker the pace
of the drill.
Goal: The team can stay in its defensive position for time.
It can also stay in its position until a minimum number of
balls have been dug, or dug and attacked.
Rotation: Once a goal is reached, the defending team
rotates.
Variation: The drill can be competitive with the Attackers
trying to score more points than the Defenders can dig
and transition.

Variation: The drill can be modified to work on different
defensive situations. The defensive team can have only
one Blocker go up, instead of two, on the outside. Or, it
can have no Blockers go up.
When to Use: This drill is for the end of practice.
MB
LB
RB LF
RF MF
RF
LF P RF2
LF2 C

Outside Hitters vs. Partial Defense
Purpose: This drill provides practice in outside attack
defense and gives outside attackers practice in hitting
against the block.
Personnel: The entire team and a coach.
Initiation of Play: The coach tosses the ball to the Setter.
Description: On the one side of the net are the Blockers, B,
in the three front-row positions, and defenders, D, at the
LB and RB positions. On the other side are lines of attack-
ers in the LF and RF, a Setter and a coach.
The drill starts with the Defenders in the ready posi-
tion. The coach tosses the ball to the Setter who sets either
outside Attacker. The Attacker hits the ball (line, or cross-
court, or off-speed) at the defense, and then blocks after
the attack. The defense digs the ball and attempts to run
its offense after digging.
Rotation: After the sequence has concluded, the initial
Attacker goes to the end of the line and the sequence
begins with a new toss by the coach.
Coaching Tip: The coach controls the pace of the drill by
the quickness of the tosses to the Setter after the ball
attacked by the defense passes by the block.
Goal: The drill progresses until the defense has accom-
plished a minimum number of digs, dig-set-attack combi-
nations, or for time.
Rotation: When the goal is reached, players rotate posi-
tions.
When to Use: The drill is for the end of practice.

Quick Attack Defense Drill
Purpose: This drill allows for a team to practice against
quick attacks from the middle.
Personnel: Nine or more players and a coach.
Initiation of Play: Coach tosses to the Setter.
Description: On one side of the net is a line of three MF
Attackers, a Setter and the coach. On the other side of the
net are three front-row Blockers in their blocking posi-
tions, a LB Defender and a RB Defender. The defense
starts in the ready position.
The coach tosses a ball to the Setter who sets a MF
Attacker. On the other side of the net, the Blockers and the
defensive players adjust to dig the ball. The defense tries
to dig the ball and run a transition attack.
Goal: The drill continues for time.
Rotation: Attackers alternate hitting. After a goal is
achieved, the players rotate.
When to Use: At the end of practice.

Two Coaches vs. Six Players Drill
Purpose: This drill works on transition to offense in a con-
trolled situation.
Personnel: Six players and two coaches.
Equipment: Full court and balls.
Initiation of Play: The coaches start by sending a ball into
the other court.
Description: At the LF and RF positions, the coaches set up
hitting tables. On the other side of the net are a team of six.
The team of six starts in its beginning defensive positions.
The drill begins when a coach slaps a ball. The defend-
ers, front row and back row, adjust to defend the attack by
the coach. The defenders dig the ball and run a transition
attack.
Immediately after the ball is hit past the net, the
defenders quickly return to their beginning positions and
either coach slaps a ball. The defense adjusts, and the drill
continues as before.
Goal: The team of six continues in the drill for time, until a
number of successful attacks have been performed, or
until a consecutive number of successful attacks have been
performed.
Rotation: Once the goal has been achieved, the defending
team rotates and/or new players may be substituted into
the drill.
When to Use: This is an end of practice drill.

Five Position Digging
Purpose: The drill is designed to familiarize players with
playing defense in all areas of the court. The drill has
established criteria and the drill can not be completed
until the criteria is successfully completed.
Personnel: Coach, Defender, Target and waiting team.
Equipment: Coaches platform.
Initiation of Play: The coach initiates the drill from a stand
on the opposite side of the net.
The player starts in the RB and balls are attacked at
this player until the player successfully digs the ball into
Zone-7.
When this is accomplished the coach says “Go,” and
the player steps into the MB digging position. After corre-
sponding “goes” from the coach the player moves next to
the left back, then left front (dig) and left front (tip).
All five positions must have a successful, accurate dig
to the target before completion.
Coaching Tip: This is a motivational and technical drill. It
promotes hard work, enthusiasm and skill.

P
Coach
Target
4th 5th
3rd
Digger
2nd 1st

Team Situational
Defense/Transition Drill
Purpose: To get the defending players to move and make a
successful transition to attack.
Personnel: A team of six players, a coach and three
blockers.
Equipment: Full-court.
Initiation of Play: Coach slaps ball.
Description: The coach steps onto a box or chair. The coach
positions him or herself on the court wherever the coach
decides would be most beneficial. The defense starts in
base positions. At the slap of the ball, the defense moves
into position required. The coach attacks to control the
drill, either to concentrate on specific weakness or to hit
the ball like a specific opponent. The team then tries to
convert against three Blockers. The convert to an attack
against three Blockers continues the drill to include spiker
coverage.
See the diagram on the next page.
Contributor/Author: Don Shaw

C
RF MF P LF
LF MF RF
LB
RB
MB

Rapid–Fire Serve/Receive Drill
Purpose: Conditioning and Serve/Receive.
Personnel: Three pairs of players are used in this drill. The
first pair is the RB (Server) and Feeder. The second pair is
the Target and Retriever. The third pair is P1 and P2.
Rotation Movement: The passers switch every 10 serves.
The servers switch every 20 serves. The pairs rotate every
40 serves.
Explanation: The server stands just inside the end line and
concentrates on technique (short toss, short stroke, palm to
the target, follow-through).
The passer assumes proper position on the court. The
passer keeps the base wide and platform together the
whole ten serves (if possible).
Coaching Tip: Keep the tempo fairly fast for many repeti-
tions with proper technique.

P1 P2
F RB P

Under-the-Net, Loose-ball,
Recovery Drill
Purpose: This drill aims to keep the players moving low to
the ground before the player reaches the point of contact.
This is a conditioning drill. It also improves the ability to
concentrate on the ball before the floor concept.
Personnel: Two players and a coach. More players can
wait their turn.
Equipment: Half-court.
Initiation of Play: Coach command, then ball toss.
Explanation: Players go in pairs, starting at the 3-meter
line on opposite sides of the net from the coach. On the
coach’s command, P1 runs diagonally toward the opposite
3-meter line. As they approach the net, the coach tosses
the ball to be played and probably followed with a dive,
roll or sprawl. P1 quickly returns to his or her feet and
back-pedals straight back away from the net. While P1
back-pedals, P2 starts in the same pattern.
Goal: Both players continue for a designated time period,
number of tosses, or positive contacts. Or, play can contin-
ue until the goal number of balls is delivered to the tar-
gets.

P2
P1
R R
C
PP
T F T
R R

Four-Person Defense Drill
Purpose: To get the players comfortable playing next to
each other as well as showing the areas of coverage in the
team’s designated defense.
Personnel: Four players and a coach. More players can
wait their turn.
Initiation of Play: The ball is initiated by one of the coach-
es standing on the ground at the sidelines of the court. The
ball is hit at a defender who passes the ball to the Setter
who set one of the two coaches.
Goal: The ball is kept in play as long as possible.
Rotation: The players switch when the coach decides it is
time.
Time Allotment: 20–30 minutes.
When to Use: This drill is used prior to hitting as the
coaches desire the players to break a good sweat.
Furthermore, the players need to comprehend that good
ball handling precedes hitting.

D D
D
D
P P
C S C

Acceleration Drill
Purpose: To train the players to pursue all the balls that
are attacked into their area of responsibility.
Personnel: A coach and a line of Defenders.
Description: Players start on the endline. The coach starts
near the net. The players accelerate forward and retrieve a
ball that is tossed by the coach into the player’s area. The
drill is done quickly. After a player digs his or her ball, the
player quickly goes back to the end of the court to touch a
teammate’s hand. The players go through five-to-six times
before the players switch.
Rotation of players: The players repeat the sequence (run
forward, dig, retreat and tag hands) at least five times
before switching roles with a waiting player in line past
the end-line. Diggers go from being in the drill to being on
the endline as a “tagger.”
In the diagram on the next page, the “taggers” are
shown as W1, W2 and W3.
Time Allotted: 15 minutes.
When to Use: Use the drill any time the coach wants to
demonstrate the importance of going for balls.

W1 W2 W3
D1 D2 D3
CP P
C

Blocking Progression Drill(s)
Purpose: This set of drills trains jumping under control
and reaching over the net to contact the ball.
Equipment: To facilitate the training of younger, smaller
players, the net may be lowered to an appropriate height.
Goal: In general, the players do 10 repetitions, then switch.
Personnel: Two players are needed.
Description: One player tosses while the other player
blocks. The Blocker stands at the net with hands up and
reaches over the net in a blocking position. The tosser
throws the ball at the Blocker’s hands. The Blocker then
reaches forward and catches the ball on the other side of
the net.
The same drill can be done with the players moving,
with correct footwork, then reaching over and catching the
ball.
Variation: Instead of catching the tossed ball, the ball is
thrown hard and the Blocker blocks the ball to the court.
Variation: With another player joining the tosser, the two
tossers stand approximately 10 feet apart, both facing the
net. The Blocker faces the net on the other side and blocks
the ball thrown from the first tosser. Then the Blocker
moves laterally, faces the second person, and blocks the
ball thrown by the second person.
Here, five balls are blocked in succession.
Coaching Tip: Correct footwork should be emphasized.

Variation: Two players face one another separated by
approximately five feet. One player is the Hitter instead of
a tosser, while the other player is the Blocker. The Blocker
stands with his or her arms up in a blocking position. The
Hitter tosses the ball and hits it into the Blocker’s hands.
The Blocker should try to block the ball straight down.
When to Use: These drills should be used at the beginning
of practice or at the middle of practice prior to hitting and
team drills.

Three Person Drill
Purpose: Since the ball is seldom attacked at the starting
position of the Blocker, Blockers must learn to move quick-
ly into position to block an attack.
Personnel: The entire team. Most of the team acts as
Blockers and the rest hold balls.
Equipment: Chairs or tables at positions along the net.
Description: Three players stand on chairs or tables at
three positions along the net holding balls at a height
slightly above the top of the net. The ball should be held
so that the Blocker must jump and penetrate the plane of
the net to touch it. A player jumps and touches the ball at
the first position, then moves and contacts the ball on the
second position, then moves and contacts the ball at the
third position.
Coaching Tip: Correct footwork, either a lateral step or a
crossover step, should be emphasized.
Rotation: After the first player blocks at all three positions,
he or she returns to the end of the line, then the next play-
er begins.
Goal: Each player makes a certain number of trips, for
example 10, then the next group of players block.
Variation: The drill can be varied by blocking from loca-
tions at the net other than those shown in the diagram.
The sequence of the blocks can also be varied. Instead of
Left, Middle, Right, players can block Middle, Left,
Middle, Right, Middle. Or, players can block two positions
instead of three.
Variation: Two balls can be held at a position instead of
one, with the Blockers required to contact both balls when
they jump.

When to Use: This drill can be used at the beginning of
practice as part of warm-up. It can also be used prior to
any hitting and blocking drills.

Repetitive Blocking Drill
Purpose: Reading the Hitter and figuring where the Hitter
is most likely to hit the ball.
Personnel: A coach, three players and a net.
Equipment. A table for the coach to stand on near the net
and balls.
Description: The first Blocker in line moves to the net and
blocks the attacks of the coach. The coach faces a direction
and hits the ball. The Blocker moves so that the Blocker is
always blocking the coach’s straight ahead attack.
Rotation: The Blocker blocks three attacks, then moves to
the end of the line. The group of three Blockers stays in the
drill until they have gone through 10 times each.
Variation: The coach can move on the table along the net
and change direction.
Coaching Tip: The drill can be made more challenging by
requiring more blocks, for example 5, before the next play-
er blocks. Requiring that the blocks be consecutive, with-
out errors, increases the degree of difficulty.
When to Use: This drill can be one of a number of blocking
drills used in the middle of practice. It can also be used in
a split squad situation where a second drill is performed
on a second court.

Repetition Blocking with
Movement Drill
Purpose: Blocking movement.
Personnel: Two coaches and three players.
Equipment: Two tables, a net and balls.
Description: Two coaches stand on tables on one side of
the net. Initially, the coaches are 10 feet apart. A group of
three Blockers stands on the other side of the net. The first
Blocker blocks a ball hit by the first coach then moves to
the position of the second coach and blocks a ball hit by
the second coach.
Coaching Tips: Different footwork patterns can be prac-
ticed in the movement, either a crossover step or a lateral
step. Correct footwork should be emphasized.
Rotation: The first player blocks two balls, then the next
player goes.
Goal: Each player does the circuit a certain number of
times, for example, 10.
Variation: The drill can be varied by placing the coaches in
different positions. The blocking positions that are prac-
ticed should reflect the types of attacks that are defended
in games. The drill can be made more challenging by
increasing the number of blocks in a circuit or by counting
only those circuits where the blocks are successful.
When to Use: This drill can be used in the middle of prac-
tice as part of a group of blocking drills.

One vs. Three: Middle Blocker
Drill
Purpose: This drill provides conditioning for the Middle
Blocker and works on movement skills.
Personnel: At least five players and a coach.
Equipment: Balls and a net.
Initiation of Play: The coach tosses the ball to the Setter.
Description: On one side of the net is a Middle Blocker
starting in the MF. On the other side of the net are lines of
Attackers at LF, MF, RF. There are also a coach and a Setter.
The coach tosses the ball to the Setter who sets any posi-
tion. The Middle Blocker goes to the position of the set
and attempts to block the ball. Upon landing, the Middle
Blocker returns quickly to the MF and the next ball is
tossed.
Goal: The drill continues until a total number of attacks is
achieved. Alternatively, the Middle Blocker can be kept in
the drill until a minimum number of blocks is achieved.
Variation: The drill can be made more challenging by hav-
ing the coach toss the ball when the Middle Blocker lands
after blocking, not allowing the Middle Blocker to return
to the middle.
Coaching Tip: Footwork should be emphasized in this
drill.
When to Use: This is a demanding drill for the Middle
Blocker. It should be done near the end of practice.

One-on-One Repetitive Blocks
Drill
Purpose: To learn to watch the spiker’s body and arm to
“read” the direction of the spike.
Personnel: A spiker, Blocker, Feeder, and Retriever(s).
Equipment: One table, eight balls.
Initiation of Play: Coach spikes ball from a table.
Description: The coach stands on a table and repetitively
spikes balls down the line or cross-court. The coach turns
his or her body in the direction of the intended spike so
that the Blockers learn to position according to the spiker’s
actions. The Blocker rotates to Feeder and then to
Retriever when the coach deems the player has had
enough. Two drills can take place on the same court.
Coaching Tip: Watch the Blocker’s eyes to make sure they
are open when the spiker contacts the ball.

Rapid Block Drill
Purpose: Individual drill concentrates on Blockers’ foot-
work and handwork.
Personnel: Whole team.
Equipment: Net, balls and table.
Explanation: A single-file line begins at one end of the net
on one side. On the other side there are four coaches or
attackers on stands who attack into the block in succes-
sion. At the beginning, the sequence should be slow. The
slow sequence allows the Blocker to concentrate on tech-
nique and form. As the drill becomes more familiar, the
frequency of the coaches attacks should accelerate.
Coaching Tip: Blockers should utilize both sidesteps and
cross-over steps. Area of concentration is that the Blocker
should penetrate the net.

Brassey Blocking Drill
Purpose: Work on a double-block and spiker-coverage.
Personnel: Coach and at least four players.
Initiate Play: Coach initiates by sending an easy ball to one
passer.
Ball Movement: Toss from coach, pass, set to the outside,
hit. The passer and Setter both go to give coverage to the
Attacker.
Explanation: Two Blockers attempt to block the Attacker.
The Middle Blocker must wait at the middle of the net
until the opposing Setter sets the ball. Then the Middle
Blocker can move to the outside to join and form the dou-
ble block. The defensive team has two diggers to position
where it wants.
The Attackers may not tip.
If the offensive team blocks for a point or digs up the
ball and puts the ball where a Setter could get to cover the
passed ball, then the defensive team earns a point. If the
Attacker gets a kill, then the offensive team gets a point.
Goal: Play a game and keep score to 8 points.
Variation: The defensive team can use two Middle
Blockers and have them alternate.
Variation: Use only one Attacker instead of a line of
Attackers. With only one Attacker, play the game to 5
points.
Variation: Use a back-set and hit to the right side.

D D
P
C
B B
A
W
W D
W

Middle Attack/Block Drill
Purpose:
Match the
Attackers
against the
CP
Blockers.
Equipment:
Full court.
B B Personnel:
Whole squad.
(31) (52) (71)
S Goal: Play
A Attackers vs.
Blockers and
first team to
seven points
D wins.
Initiation of
Play: The coach
initiates play
with an easily tossed ball to a passer or digger.
Description: The coach tosses the ball over the net to the
defensive player. The pass/dig sends the ball to the Setter.
The Setter calls a play for the Middle Hitter before the pass
or dig. Hitter starts at the net or in a serve/receive posi-
tion, then attacks. Play with two or more players in the
middle at a time.
After the attack, the Blockers make a transitions to
their hitting positions. While the Blockers are in transition,
then the coach can hit another ball to the defender/dig-
ger/passer.
Work the left side of the court. The MF may hit 31 or 52
or 71.

Variations: Move passers to different positions on the
court. Add two diggers to the defense.
CP
B B
(52) (71) (SLIDES)
S
A

Blocking with a Moving Partner
Drill/ The Shadow Drill
Purpose: To move quickly when blocking and to control
body motion when blocking.
Equipment: A net.
Personnel: Pair of players.
Explanation: A Blocker acts as a shadow and tries to mir-
ror a player across the net. The moving partner has a ball
and runs anywhere along the net. The Blocker must stay
even with the moving partner. At some time during the
movement, the moving partner mumps and places the ball
above the net. The Blocker sees the moving partner jump,
the Blocker must stop and block the ball, like a shadow.
The Blocker must be careful not to hit the net or step over
the center line.
When to Use: Use at the beginning of practice after the
players have warmed-up enough to block and to some lat-
eral movements.

Spike Against the Far Away Wall
Drill
Initiation of Play: Self.
Description: Stand 9-or-more meters from a wall and set
the ball up to yourself. Then hit the ball with a game-like
ball flight over the “net” (the net is not there). Do not hit
the ball into the net or into the feet of the Blockers.
Coaching Tip: Most players are already good at hitting
overpasses into the net. Most players rehearse this skill by
playing a pepper game where the ball comes at you, and
you blast it down in a rhythm. Stop!
You can’t really get into the “Kaboom, Kaboom”
rhythm found in the non-game-like ball flight wall hitting,
but you can learn an arm swing that will be of value.
When the times come that there is no block, you can
easily zing into the motion of pounding the ball down, but
that is a rare situation. You need to learn to hit around the
block and over the net. Set yourself 1-meter sets and high
balls. Hit cross-court, cut, and line shots to the wall. If you
can hit the floor/wall corner, you hit the back-line “coffin
corner,” a tough shot to defend.

Repetition Hitting Drill
Purpose: To regain timing for attacking balls. Allows
many repetitions in a limited time, and improves condi-
tioning.
Personnel: Three players and a coach.
Description: the coach tosses balls to players taking turns
hitting. Other players retrieve and keep the flow of balls
continuous so that the drill is not interrupted. The drill can
be done with players hitting from any position at the net.
Goal: Hit 30 balls. Or hit 30 balls with no more than 10%
hitting errors.
Variation: Restrict the spot on the court where the players
are to hit the ball.
Variation: Have the balls set to the Attackers instead of
being tossed by the coach. The coach now tosses to the
Setter who sets the Attackers. The Setter can now work on
setting.
Variation: Blockers and defenders can be added.
Rotation: Three new players rotate into the drill after the
goal has been reached.

Dig and Hit Drill
Purpose: This is a very simple but vital drill that can be
used at all levels to encourage both ball control and proper
footwork for transition hitting.
Personnel: At least three players.
Equipment: Half-court with a net and ball.
Initiation of Play: The ball is initiated by the coach from
the opposite side of the net on a stand.
Explanation: The coach attacks the ball at the digger in the
front row in the RF or LF.
The Digger passes the ball to the Setter and immedi-
ately releases to his or her “X” or spot where the attacking
approach begins. The Digger must get around the cone
and to the “X” for the attack to be considered a success.
Coaching Tip: The coach should be behind the Digger
player and giving feedback both on the dig and the
approach. The attacker should come to a stop and attack
late, fast and behind the ball.

Dink to the Target Drill
Purpose: To place the dink shot to a specific point on the
opponent’s court.
Equipment: One towel, four balls.
Personnel: Six-to-nine players.
Initiation of Play: Attackers send a ball to the Setter.
Description: The coach places a towel on the floor indicat-
ing where the spiker is to dink the ball. When drilling dur-
ing the season, the towel is placed in the next opponent’s
vulnerable area. Generally the three areas in the diagram
are enough to cover all defenses. Blockers are used in the
drill so the dink is not too low.
Coaching Tip: The spiker is to approach late and fast and
bend the arm in the usual spiking technique before slow-
ing the arm down and looping the ball over the net with
the fingertips.
B B
LF
LF
C
LF

Rapid–Fire Spiking Drill
Purpose: To warm the players up and allow them to work
on whatever spiking position they desire against one
Blocker.
Equipment: One ball for every spiker.
Personnel: Nine-to-twelve players to a court.
Initiation of Play:
Attacker tosses ball
to the Setter.
Description: There
are three spiking
lines, one Setter,
and one Blocker.
B
First the Area-2,
then Area-3 and
S Area-4 spikers pass
the ball and spike
MF
RF in rapid order. The
LF
Blocker blocks nine
MF times (three trips
LF
MF RF across the net) and
LF
RF
then a new Blocker
takes his or her
place. The
Attackers retrieve their own spikes and return to a spiking
line.
Coaching Tip: The coach can concentrate on watching the
spiker’s approach to make sure the attacker waits long
enough after the pass to approach fast for a maximum
jump. If the spiker leaves too soon, the spiker has to slow
down for the set, which decreases the jump.

Hole in the Block Drill
Purpose: To teach the Attacker to take whatever the block
will give.
Equipment: Four balls.
Personnel: Six-to-nine players.
Description: The coach stands behind the Attacker and
gives the block hand signals to: 1) take the line; 2) take
cross-court; or 3) leave a hole in the block. The Attacker’s
job is to keep the set in front so that the Blockers can be
easily seen, and the Attacker can hit to the open area.
Coaching Tip: Use this drill after the Attackers have mas-
tered a good approach and takeoff and have learned to hit
the line and cross-court.

Wipe-Off Shot Drill
Purpose: To spike the ball off the end Blocker’s hand so
that the defense cannot return it.
Equipment: Two balls.
Personnel: Six-to-twelve players and a coach. Feeders can
take the place of the coach.
Initiation of Play: The coach throws the ball to the top of
the net.
Description: The coach throws the ball to the top of the net
or one-or-two feet to either side. Two players on opposite
sides of the net either block or spike wipe-off shots. The
Retriever returns the ball, and the drill continues until one
of the players gets three points. The coach is also the refer-
ee and settles any disputes that may arise.
Rotation: The winner can stay in and play the feeder or
two new players can start another game to three.
Coaching Tip: Do not try a wipe-off shot against a small
Blocker as the small Blockers do not give the spikers
enough area to hit.

P
Blo ck er
Spiker
Coach
Feeder

High Flat Shot Drill
Purpose: To spike the ball off the top of the end Blocker’s
fingers to that the ball sails over the Area-2 Digger and
away form the Area-6 Digger.
Equipment: Four balls.
Personnel: Nine or more players.
Initiation of Play: Coach passes to the Setter.
Description: The coach passes to the Setter who sets to the
Area-4 Attacker. The attacker hits straight ahead at the end
Blocker’s hands, attempting to draw a touch on the
Blocker and make the ball land beyond the endline. The
Attacker then retrievers the ball and returns it to the cart
and spikes again. The coach switches the Middle Blocker
and Area-6 Player as well as the Area-2 Blocker and Area-
1 Defender. The defenders then switch places with the
attackers.
Coaching Tips: A good Blocker occasionally drop his or
her hands at the last instant, hopping the Spiker will hit
the high-flat shot out of bounds. This move should be
incorporated in the drill so that the Attacker will recognize
the ploy and spike downward into the court.

D
B B
S
LF
CP
LF
LF

Left vs. Right Drill
Purpose: This is a transition hitting drill. The drill pits two
players against one another with the aid of a six-on-six set-
ting.
Personnel: Twelve players total. Six players to a side. Two
coaches.
Equipment: Coaches have a bucket of balls behind each
court.
Initiation of Play: The ball is initiated on an alternating
basis by each coach on a bounce to the Setter. Go to side A
for one rally and then to side B for the next.
Goal: Play to 15 points.
Description: Only the first ball must be set to the featured
attackers. For instance the first ball of each rally just be set
to RF on side A, LF on side B.
This is a highly competitive drill. It forces two players
to hit and block against each other. There is a clear winner
and loser, but these individual players must rely on his or
her teammates.

CPPP
MB
LB
S
LF
LF MF
MF RF
LF
RB
LB
MB
C PPP

Three Hitters vs. Two Blockers
Drill
Purpose: Learn hitting in a game situation in this combina-
tion blocking-attacking drill. Hitters learn how to hit
against certain types of blocks, and Blockers learn how to
take shots away from Attackers.
Personnel: Six players. Players include: Setter, three
Attackers, and two Blockers. Coach to toss balls.
Initiation of Play: Coach tosses balls to Setter.
Description: The coach tosses a ball to a Setter. The
Attackers alternate attacking. The Blockers take a specific
blocking position. Blockers can take the line shot.
Attackers are required to hit the ball cross-court, inside the
block. Or, Blockers take the cross-court shot. Then
Attackers try to hit the ball down the line, between the
outside Blocker and the line. Or, the Blockers line up on
the ball. Then Attackers try to hit the ball off the block for
kills.
Goal: Set a total number of kills, for example 30.
Variation: The Blockers can stand on a table. The table
should be long enough so that the block can move and
adjust to the set. It should be high enough so that the
block is at competition height. The table should be far
enough from the net so that it presents no hazard to the
attackers.
Coaching Tip: The drill becomes as much a blocking drill
as a hitting drill when the Blockers go from the ground.
Whatever the form, the block should be mobile and adjust
to the set so that the Attackers are forced to hit the
required shot to be successful.

When to Use: This drill is a middle of practice drill. It can
be used by beginning or advanced players.

Three Player Attack from Defense
Drill
Purpose: This game-like drill combines three contacts with
an attack. It utilizes ball control and is a conditioning drill
for the attacker.
Personnel: A coach, a Setter, and three players.
Initiation of Play: The coach hits or tosses a ball to the
player starting in the defensive position.
Description: P1 is the first attacker. P2 is in a defensive
position. The coach hits or tosses a ball to P2. P2 passes to
the Setter who sets the attacker, P1.
Immediately after the attack crosses the net, P1 returns
to play defense and the coach puts another ball in play.
The ball is passed to the Setter and P1 attacks again.
Goal: This series continues until P1 hits the required num-
ber of balls. The Attacker is required to make a number of
consecutive attacks. At the beginning, three attacks in a
row can be required. As the player becomes more profi-
cient, the number of consecutive attacks can be increased.
Rotation: After P1 finishes attacking, P2 becomes the new
attacker, P3 the new defender and P1 rests.
Variations: The first ball can be played to either the defen-
sive player or the Attacker. It can be a tossed ball or a dri-
ven attack. The defensive player can be at any of the back-
row positions, not just the LB position as shown. The
Attacker can hit from a number of net positions rather
than a single position. A second defender can also be used
in the drill.
When to Use: The drill can be used in the middle or at the
end of practice.

Call the Shot Drill
Purpose: The drill allows Attackers to practice making
adjustments in response to communication.
Personnel: A minimum of four players and a coach.
Equipment: A full court.
Initiation of Play: Coach tosses the ball to the Setter.
Description: This drill uses a Setter and three Attackers. A
block is optional. The coach tosses to the Setter. The
Attackers alternate attacking. After an Attacker starts the
approach, the next Attacker in line calls out where to hit
the ball. The waiting player calls, “Cross-court,” or
“Down-the-line.”
When the drill is first being attempted, the call can be
made as the Attacker starts the approach. As Attackers
become more proficient the call should be made later in
the approach.
If a block is used, the call of the shot is based on the
position of the block.
Goal: Completion of the drill is based on total number of
attacks by the group, total number of successful attacks, or
total number of consecutive attacks without error.
Coaching Tip: In game situations, Attackers need to be
aware of the block. Non-attackers should communicate to
the Attacker where to place the attack so that a successful,
open shot can be delivered.
When to Use: The drill is for the middle of practice. It is
also best used with an intermediate or advanced skill
level. Players should be proficient at spiking before
attempting this drill.

One Blocker vs. Three Attacker
Drill
Purpose: Conditioning and reading the Attackers for
Blockers in a game-like situation.
Personnel: Coach and at least five players.
Equipment: Net and balls.
Initiation of Play: Coach tosses the ball to a Setter.
Description: On one side of the net is a Setter, three
Attackers in a line, and a coach who tosses the ball for ini-
tiation of play. The other side of the net has the lone
Blocker who blocks from the RF.
The coach controls the pace of the drill by controlling
the tempo of the tosses to the Setter. The Attackers hit one
after another. The Blocker attempts to block the Attackers’
shots.
Goal: The scoring of the drill can be varied. In one varia-
tion the Blocker can be kept in the drill for a minimum
number of attacks, for example 30 attacks, then the
Blockers rotate. As an alternative, the Blocker can remain
in the drill until a number of blocks are accomplished, for
example five blocks.
Variation: The Blocker can take the line shot or the cross-
court shot depending on what the coach wishes to accom-
plish with the drill.
Variation: Attackers can also hit from the RF with a
Blocker blocking from the LF.
Variation: The drill can also be varied by having two
Blockers who alternately block against three Attackers.
When to Use: The drill is best used in latter part of prac-
tice.

Attack and Switch Drill
Purpose: This drill practices switching and attacking con-
tinuously from different positions along the net. During
the course of the game, players may have to switch posi-
tions during the rally.
Personnel: The drill requires a minimum of four players.
Other players may be needed to retrieve balls. A coach
starts play.
Equipment: Balls and a full-court.
Initiation of Play: The coach tosses a ball over the net to a
passer.
Description: One player, P1, acts as a passer. Two other
players, P2 and P3, are the attackers. The fourth player is
the Setter.
The coach tosses the ball at P1 who passes it to the
Setter. The Setter sets P2 on the left or P3 in the middle.
After the attacked ball crosses the net, the coach tosses
another ball over. The group of three play the ball to the
Setter with P1 being the primary passer. During play P2
and P3 switch positions and P3 now hits from the left and
P2 hits from the middle.
As the ball crosses the net, a new ball is tossed over
and play continues.
Coaching Tip: The Setter and Attacker have to communi-
cate in the drill as to the position and type of set to be hit.
P2 and P3 also have to be attentive prior to switches in
order to play a ball tossed to them.
When to Use: This drill can be one of many drills that
emphasize transition. It is best done in the middle of prac-
tice.

Four-On-Four Deep Court
Exchange Drill
Purpose: Ball control, ball handling, deep court hitting.
Equipment: One-full court and at least 2 balls.
Personnel: Four player are on one side of the court playing
these positions: LB, MB, RB, MF. If more than four players
are needed per team, rotate the extra player(s) off of the
court.
Initiation of Play: The ball should be put into play to imi-
tate how the previous ball was put out of play. For exam-
ple, if a player dug the ball out of play, the coach hits the
next ball at that same player until the player successfully
controls the ball.
Description: Pass, set, hit, exchange. The back-court play-
ers play defense and dig the ball to the MF player. The MF
player sets back-row to any one of the back-row players.
The back-row player hits the ball over the net. After the
ball crosses the net, that group exchanges positions.
Ball Control Rule: The drill can be modified so that the
four players on the court stay on and continue to exchange
as always. The fifth player in the group enters the drill
when a ball control error is made by one of the four play-
ers on the court. Player 5 takes the position of player 4.
This way the players “earn” more repetitions by perform-
ing well.
Scoring: Score can be kept in any number of ways. Be cre-
ative.
When to Use: Warm-up.

P2
P1 P3
P4
C P8
P
W1
P7 P5
P6
Shows Rotation Order

Middle vs. Middle Drill
Purpose: To work on live middle attacks, commit blocking,
defense against the middle attack, and transition middle
attack.
Set up: Start with five players per team in these positions:
LB, MB, RB, Setter and Middle Hitter. The Setter plays at
the RF position. The Setter is restricted from participating
in the block.
Description: On each team, only the Middle Hitter may
attack from the front-court. When blocking, only the
opposing Middle Hitter may block. If the Setter can not
deliver the ball to the Middle Hitter, or if the Setter choos-
es, the Setter may set any of the other back-row players
behind the 3-meter line (for a back-row attack).
The Middle Hitters must hit, block, get off the net, and
them make themselves available to hit again, etc.
Rotation: The three back-row players may alternate their
turn serving.
Initiation of Play: At the start, Team A serves to Team B.
For the second rally, the coach tosses the ball in from the
side near Team B. This ball is then played over the net
underhand by Team B, for a free ball initiation.
Scoring: Wash scoring is used. Team A serves to Team B
and the rally is played out. Then Team B gives a free ball
to Team A, and that rally is played out. To initiate the sec-
ond rally, the coach tosses the ball from the sideline to the
court so that Team A can pass a “free ball” over the net to
Team B. To score a point, a team must win both rallies. If
each team scores on one rally, it’s called a “wash,” and no
points are scored.
When no points are scored after two rallies, Team A
goes back to serve again and the two-step sequence is
repeated.

Goal: With wash scoring, the first Middle Hitter to win
five wash points wins the drill.
Variation: The game can be set-up with the Setters playing
and penetrating from the RB position.
1st (serve)
P RB
MB
P
2nd LB
(Free
Ball)
S MH
MH
LB RB
MB

Middle Hitter Wash Drill
Purpose: To work on the middle attack and to work on
blocking the middle attack.
Personnel: Two coaches are needed to make easy serves.
Two teams of either three or four players play against each
other. With a three person team, the team includes one
Middle Hitter, one passer and one Setter. With a four per-
son team, the team includes two MF, one passer and one
Setter. The second MF waits off the court for his or her
turn.
Initiation of Play: The coach serves an easy ball over the
net to the passer.
Rotation and Score: The score is kept in sequences of two
serves. Nobody rotates after the first serve. Points may or
may not be awarded after pairs of serves, but regardless, a
rotation of play transpires.
Description: The first coach serves the first ball to the
Passer. The Passer digs the ball to the Setter. The Setter sets
the ball to the MF who attacks the ball and terminates
play. Then the same coach serves the second ball to the
same passer and the same sequence transpires (dig, set,
hit). After the second attack is terminated, the results are
reviewed and points are awarded accordingly.
Score: If the MF on Team A scores on one serve and errors
or gets blocked on the other serve, no points are scored
and the serve goes to Team B. Team B then gets the same
scoring chance.
If the MF on Team A makes two consecutive errors, or
gets blocked twice, or some other bad combination for
Team A occurs, then Team A loses a point from its score.

If the MF on Team A scores on both balls served, Team
A gets a point. Then the two MF on Team A switch and
the two Middle Blockers on Team B switch (if available),
and Team A gets two more serves.
Goal: Play to 20 points.
MB
1st (serve)
PC
P
2nd
(serve) Waiting
S MH
MH
Waiting MH
MH
RB
MB

Pass, Set, Hit, — Warm-up Hitting
Drill
Purpose: Warm-up, setting and hitting.
(RETRIEVER)
Personnel:
Coach, Setter
and line of
Attackers.
Coach
Equipment:
Setter Balls and a net.
Initiation of
P Play: Coach
Spiker
tosses easy balls
to the line of
Attackers.
Description:
Wait
Coach tosses
Wait
easy balls to the

line of
Attackers. The
Attackers
should try to overhead pass to the Setters. Then the Setters
set the ball back to an Attacker who spikes.
Time Allotment: 2-minutes.
Variation: Require the Attackers to hit a certain spot on the
opposite side of the court with their attack. Or tell the
Attackers to hit line. Or tell the Attackers to hit deep cor-
ner.
Variation: A Blocker can be added to the drill.

Left-Side Attack Drill
Purpose: This drill allows the Setter to work on plays and
sets involving LF and MF. The opposing Blockers can also
practice stopping these attacks.
Personnel: A team drill with a coach.
Initiation of Play: Coach tosses the ball to a passer across
the net.
Description: The drill requires a Setter, MF, LF, opposing
MF Blocker and RF Blocker. The coach tosses the ball to a
passer. The passer overhand or underhand passes the ball
to the Setter who sets the MF or LF.
Immediately after the attacked ball passes the block,
another ball is tossed and the same Attackers attack again.
Rotation: A pair of Attackers play three-to-five balls in a
row, then two new Attackers rotate in.
Variation: A single play can be worked on, for example the
inside cross. Or, the Attackers can run a number of differ-
ent sets during the three-to-five ball sequence. If ball con-
trol is a concern, then the ball can be tossed from the posi-
tion of the passer.
Variation: Switch sides and do a Right-Side Attack Drill
with players running the X-play.
When to Use: This drill is best used at the middle to the
end of practice. It is also an advanced drill.

Error Correction Drill (Deep Court
Game)
Purpose: Back-row attacking, conditioning.
Personnel: Six players and a coach.
Initiation of Play: Coach hits a ball at a back-row, defen-
sive player.
Description: Start with 3 players on a side in a back-row
defensive position. The Coach initiates actions by hitting
to a back-row Digger. That team plays out the ball (dig,
set, hit). Sets must be deep for back-row attacking.
The opposing team digs, sets, hits until an error is
made. For example, if a Digger misses the ball, the coach
steps in and tries to recreate the same situation by hitting
the same kind of ball to the player who just made the
error. The coach can push the players by not letting them
get the first ball. The team then continues to play.
If an attacking player hits the ball out-of-bounds or
into the net the coach tosses another ball for the Setter to
set for the same Attacker.
Rotations: Switch the waiting team into the game every 2-
minutes. Or the rotation can switch the waiting team onto
the court behind the coach whenever a team misses a dig
and while the coach is hitting at the team that missed the
dig.

W WW
D
S
A
P
C
D
D
D
W WW

Rose’s Repetitive Hitting Drill
Purpose: To develop hitting endurance.
Equipment: Half-court with a net, balls and a chair or traf-
fic cone.
Personnel: A coach and one player or more.
Explanation: The coach tosses regular sets to an attacking
player. The attacking player must hit the set, then run
around a chair. The chair is placed by the 15-foot line.
Then the attacking player must hit again.
Goal: The drill continues until the Attacker gets 20 spikes
into the court. Attacks don’t count if they hit the net or go
out of bounds.
Coach
Spiker

Hitting Around Chairs Drill
Purpose: To teach the proper spiking approach and to
teach the spiker to control one’s body when approaching
for the spike. To show the player the need to hit at various
spots along the net.
Personnel: A coach and at least one player.
Equipment: Three balls, half-court and a net.
Explanation: An Attacker starts the drill by hitting a toss
by the coach down the line. Then the same Attacker runs
around the chairs and hits a toss by the coach in the mid-
dle of the net. Then the same Attacker runs around the
second hair and hits a toss from the right side. The
Attacker goes to the back of the line and another Attacker
does the same routine.
Goal: The drill continues until each spiker has gone
around five trips.
When to Use: Do this drill at the early stages of teaching
hitting and in the early part of practice.

3rd 2nd 1st
P
Coach
Spiker
Waiting
Waiting

Server-Passer-Target Drill
Purpose: This drill is a combination drill that permits serv-
ing and passing practice.
Explanation: One player serves, the second player passes,
while the third player acts as a Target. With beginning
teams, all three players start on the same side of the net.
The server stands at the net with the passer starting 20 to
30 feet away. The Target stands 5-to-10 feet to the server’s
left. The server serves to the passer and the passer tries to
pass to the Target. The passer tries to control both the loca-
tion and the height of the pass.
Goal: The drill can be continued for time.
Rotation: The players rotate.
When to Use: This drill is good early-season or off-season
when the emphasis is on skill development. It is best
scheduled at the middle of a practice after basic passing
and setting drills have been performed.

Target Serving Drill
Purpose: This drill is for practicing serving accuracy.
Personnel: Pairs of players.
Equipment: A court, net, cone markers to divide the court,
actual targets (such as buckets or chairs) and a large num-
ber of balls.
Initiation of Play: The player serves the ball.
Description: Players pair up with one person serving and
the other counting and shagging. The court is divided into
a number of target zones that contain targets. Marker
cones can be used to mark these areas with objects such as
chairs or buckets used as targets. Each zone is numbered.
The court in the figure is divided into zones 1, 2 and 3.
Goal: Have the players serve until they hit five serves to
zone 1, then five to zone 2, and finally five to zone 3.
Players serve a zone until they achieve the number
required.
Alternate Scoring: Require accuracy over a limited number
of serves. for example, players have nine serves. Players
are to serve the following zones in this order: 1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1,
1, 2, 3. If the player’s serve goes to the correct zone, one
point is awarded. If the zone is missed, no point is award-
ed. Scores determine players’ success.
Coaching Tip: The coach decides which are the important
zones to serve to and what is the criterion for completion
of the drill. No more than on person should serve at a time
if a number of players are serving on the same court.

Serve Under Elastic Drill
Purpose: The purpose of this drill is to train serving the
ball close to the net.
Equipment: A number of balls, antennae on the net and a
flexible elastic/bias tape stretched from one antenna to the
other. The elastic should be at least two feet above the top
of the net.
Initiation of Play: Serve the ball.
Description: Players attempt to serve the ball between the
elastic and the net. The conditions for successful comple-
tion of the drill are determined by the coach.
Rotation: The drill is timed with half of the team serving
and the other half shagging. One side serves for 2-min-
utes.
Goal: Each side competes to achieve the most good serves
in the allotted time.
Variation: With more skilled teams and players, this drill
can be combined with target serving. Players not only
have to serve the ball under the elastic, but they have to
serve specific zones to be successful.
When to Use: This is a change of pace drill. It can be used
to slow the pace of practice, while still requiring concen-
tration.

Three Point Serving Drill
Purpose: This drill permits practicing both serving and
serve/receiving in a competitive situation.
Equipment: Several balls and court.
Initiation of Play: Server serves.
Description: One player, P1, serves. P2 attempts to pass
the serve to the target, P3. P3, should be to the right of the
passer. The drill is scored.
Scoring: The server gets one point for an ace, or for a ball
that the passer does not pass to the target. The passer gets
a point for each pass to the target or for a service error by
the server. The coach determines how close the ball must
be to the target for a “good” pass. Goal: The goal is to get
to three points first.
Rotation: After three points are achieved, the winning
player switches and the game starts again. For example, if
the passer wins 3–2, the passer switches with the Target.
The server now competes with the new passer. The drill
can be performed for a fixed amount of time, for example
10 minutes, with a number of games being played in the
process.
Variation: The server can serve from the serving box or
closer to the net. This situation may be desirable for teams
with inconsistent serving. The drill can be made more
challenging by requiring the server or passer to accom-
plish three points in a row before rotating.
When to Use: This drill is best performed by players with
intermediate to advanced skills. It is best done in the mid-
dle of practice when the team is sufficiently warmed-up.

Serve at Six Drill
Purpose: Many coaches tell their players where to serve as
part of their game plan. This drill places players in a situa-
tion where they must execute their coach’s serving
strategy.
Personnel: Six players are on one side of the court in
serve/receive formation, and any number of servers can
be on the other side.
Equipment: A full-court.
Description: On one side of the court, a team of six players
gets in serve/reception formation. On the other side, a
number of servers gets to serve. The court on the reception
side is divided into six zones.
The servers alternate serving, with the coach directing
the servers, either by signals or by words, which zone to
serve to. The receiving team can pass the ball or run a play
from serve/receive.
The criterion for success is set by the coach.
Rotation: The drill can be performed for a set time allow-
ing all players to serve and receive by rotating and substi-
tution.
Goal: Make the game competitive by keeping score. The
servers get points for aces and ineffective passes by the
passing team. The passing team gets points for good pass-
es and service errors.
Variation: The drill can be performed using chairs as tar-
gets instead of passers. Players still must serve to the tar-
get areas.

When to Use: This drill is team oriented. It is best done at
the end of practice. It can be used as a change of tempo
drill in the middle of practice.

Ten-Point Serving Drill
Purpose: This drill generates competition between servers
and passers.
Personnel: Four players.
Equipment: Full-court and several balls to limit shagging.
Description: There are four players that include: a Server
(P4), two passers (P1 and P2), and a target (P3). Each play-
er is competing against the other. The drill can be also per-
formed so that the server is competing against both
passers.
Goal: The goal of the drill is to score points. The server col-
lects 2 points for an ace, 1 point if the passers pass the
serve, but not “perfectly,” 0 points if the passers make a
perfect pass, and minus 2 points for a service error. The
passers score 2 points on a perfect pass, 1 point on a good,
but not perfect pass; and minus 2 points if they are aced.
Rotation: The goal is to score 10 points. the player scoring
10 points first switches with the Target and a new game
begins.
Coaching Tips: The 10-point goal is arbitrary. The coach
can make it a 20-point game or whatever is appropriate.
The reception positions are also optional. The coach
should construct the drill to best meet the needs of the
team at the time of practice.
When to Use: The drill is best used in the middle of prac-
tice.

Serve Against The Wall Drill
Purpose: To improve serving proficiency when practicing
alone without a court.
Goal: Prepare oneself for the physical moves of making
the serve as well as the mental aspects necessary to put the
ball into play with successful results for the team.
Rotations: None, other than to proceed to another drill,
step to the court and serve over a net. A rotation could
occur within the visualization by establishing another situ-
ational mind-set.
Time Allotment: Three-minutes or longer, or until concen-
tration fades.
When to Use: When alone and when self-examination can
occur.
Explanation: Mark a line on the wall at the height of the
net in which you play. Then stand back nine-meters or
more and go through the serving routine. Serving the ball
to the wall at a spot over the line. It is most important.
Players need to have the skill of always serving over the
net, even if the ball sometimes goes out-of-bounds.
Players should go through the whole serving routine.
Imagine each time that you are in a pressure situation and
visualize your successful, tough serve.

Serve and Dash Drill
Purpose: Practice the serve and the following movements
just after the serve.
Explanation: Most people forget that the whole skill of
serving includes dashing to a back-line defensive area. For
those defending LB, the dash turns to a good eight-meter
(or more) sprint. As you run you should be watching the
ball. Run and watch. Don’t watch then run. Watching the
served ball can help you to determine what small adjust-
ment you should make on the next serve.
Would you be better on the next serve if you float the
serve or do a powerful top-spin?
Time Allotment: From 3-minutes or longer, or until con-
centration fades.

Four (in) Before Two (outs)
Serving Drill
Purpose: the drill encourages accuracy as well as con-
sciousness about a good serving ratio of “in” to “out.”
Personnel: This serving drill is performed with partners.
One player serves and the other player judges.
Equipment: Full-court and ball, but court can be shared.
Initiation of Play: Server serves the ball.
Description: The coach designates a zone with cones or
lines. The serving player serves the ball into that zone
while the judging player stands behind the zone and shags
the balls and judges accuracy.
See the diagrams on the following two pages.
Scoring: The player serving must get four in the zone
before two are out. An out ball goes into the net or out of
the court. A ball that is served onto the court but out of the
serving zone is not counted.
Rotation: When a server has failed or succeeded, the two
player switch. When both players have completed the
task, the players move to serve to a new zone.
Coaching Tip: This type of serving drill provides a game-
like atmosphere with feedback. As the servers get more
proficient, add an elastic to the antennae to force a flat
serve.

J
RBP

J3
J2
J1
J4
S1 S4
P
S2 P P
P S3

Brassey Serving Drill
SS S Purpose: To improve
SS S serving.
P Equipment: Plenty of
balls and a full-court.
Personnel: One or
C more players and at
least a coach.
Initiation of Play:
Server serves.
Description: Each
team member must
serve three balls in—
consecutively. If the
C coach thinks that the
serve is too easy, that
serve doesn’t count.
On an easy serve, the
S SSS server doesn’t lose a
SS S point, but the ball
must be re-served.
Everyone serves together. Coaches stand in the middle
of each side of the court. If the coach touches a serve, the
coaching team gets a point. If the coaching team gets five-
points, (touched ball, into the net, or out-of-bounds) before
the players all serve three good serves, coaches win and
the players must do 5 rolls.
All short serves must be inside the 3-meter line.

Receive Serves Over a Net
Purpose: Practice serving accuracy and passing accuracy
with limited number of players.
Personnel: Three players
Equipment: At least one ball and a net.
Explanation: One person serves a ball over the net to a
defending passer. The passer digs the ball to a third friend
acting as a Target. The Target is on the same side of the net
as the passer in the area of the Setter’s position. The Target
catches the passed ball and rolls it under the net to the
server.
Goal: Score the game for accuracy. Give the server a point
if the Target player has to move more than one step to
catch the ball from the defending passer. Give the Passer a
point for every serving error or if the Target has to move
only one step or less to catch the dug ball.
When to Use: Great to use when a limited number of play-
ers are available for practice.

Serve–Pass–Circuit Drill
Purpose: To provide players with a sufficient warm-up as
well as emphasizing the importance of serving and pass-
ing.
Equipment: Balls and full-court.
Personnel: Four or more players.
Description: A Server serves a ball from the serving area
on the near-half of the court. The serve is sent over the net
to a Passer who passes the ball to the target. The Target
sets the ball to a coach or target. The original server of the
ball becomes the next passer on the other side of the net.
The passer retrieves the ball from the Target and becomes
the next server on the side that passer just passed on.
Goal: The PSU team normally warms-up with 50 serves
down the line and then 50 serves cross-court.
When to Use: Use this drill at the beginning of practice
after the players have warmed-up sufficiently to serve
with control and to move enough to cover and pass.
Time Allotment: 20 minutes.

P
Server
Digger
Target
Target
Digger
P
Server

Target Serve Drill
Purpose: To develop the ability to serve to the various
zones.
Equipment: Six traffic cones are used to highlight the serv-
ing areas. Place the cones on the court as shown in the dia-
gram. Zone 1 is demonstrated with three cones placed to
produce a target area.
Description: Servers on both sides of the net have 1-
minute to serve the ball into the desired area. One point is
awarded for a serve that lands in the designated area
while one point is deducted for serves that hit the net or
go out of bounds.
Rotation: The target area is changed by moving the traffic
cones. Then a new game is initiated.
When to Use: Use the drill after the players’ arms are
warmed-up.

RB P
RB P

Dig, Set, Hit Drill
P
Wait
Wait
Coach
Setter
Spiker
Purpose: Live play.

Equipment: Half-court and a net with balls.
Personnel: A coach and three or more players.
Initiation of Play: The coach hits or tips the ball across the
net from a platform.
Description: The coach hits or tips the ball across the net
from a platform. The ball goes to the LF digger who digs
to the Setter. The Setter sets to the LF, who hits. The
Attackers start at the net and back-up to a defensive posi-
tion when the coach tosses a ball high into the air.
Variation: The Setters can block.

Variation: Play with two Setters. Each Setter must cover
the Attacker he or she sets. Alternate Setters.
Variation: Add a Blocker to block against the attack from
the LF.
Variation: Designate an area into which the LF must hit
the ball.
Variation: Hit from different positions instead of the LF.
Hit from the MF or hit from the RF.
Rotation: The Attackers rotate after every spike.
Time Allotment: Five-minutes.

Twelve Person Exchange Drill
Purpose: The object is to dig, set and attack from behind
the 3-meter line.
Personnel: Twelve players.
Initiation of Play: The coach tosses the ball to either team.
Goal: Play for a set time period.
Description: This drill consists of 12 players who switch
on and off the court in groups of three. The coach initiates
the drill by putting a ball in play to either team.
Whenever the sequence is successfully completed the
teams on the same side of the net switch on and off. This
switching on and off the court is being done while the ball
is being played on the other side of the net. The switch
must take place quickly.
Anytime an error takes place, the coach gives the ball
to the player who committed the error and allows that
player to remedy the mistake. For example, if a ball is
attacked out of bounds, the coach tosses the ball to the
player who attacked it. That player is in until that player
corrects the error. All the while, the team remains on the
court until the ball lands on the court across the net or is
engaged by the opposition.
Coaching Tip: The drill is fast moving and fun. All 12
players are involved. It can be used as an inspirational
drill, a ball-control warm-up, and end of practice drill for
time, or a pre-match warm-up.

Three vs. Three at the Net Drill
Purpose: This drill allows Hitters to practice against
Blockers and Blockers to practice against specific offensive
situations.
Personnel: At least seven players, but the entire team can
participate.
Equipment: Balls and full-court.
Initiation of Play: The coach tosses balls to the Setter.
Description: On one side of the net are three Blockers, one
at each front-row position. On the other side of the net is
the coach, a Setter and the rest of the team. The players are
divided to attack from LF, MF and RF. The Setter works
with three Attackers at a time.
The coach tosses balls to the Setter while the Hitters
run plays. The plays and sets to be practiced are directed
by the coach and Setter.
The X play is illustrated in the diagram. In this
arrangement, the LF runs a back-set or the cross.
Goal: Each group hits a number of sets, then goes to the
back of the line and the next group hits.
Coaching Tip: The pace of the drill can be accelerated into
a transition drill by taking less time between tosses.
Players can specialize, hitting from one position, or they
can hit from a number of positions.
When to Use: This drill is an advance drill, but it can be
used with intermediate level teams and is more appropri-
ate at the end of practice.

Serve/Receive to Attack Drill
Purpose: This drill facilitates the practice of serve/recep-
tion by breaking it into segments.
Personnel: Five or six players.
Equipment: Balls and a full-court.
Initiation of Play: The server serves to the reception pat-
tern.
Description: Players are placed in LF, MF, LB
serve/receive pattern. The Setter is the target. The Server
serves to the reception pattern.
The receiving team passes to the Setter and then runs a
play with the Setter setting to either the LF or the MF. The
Setter determines the type of set to be made.
Goal and Rotation: A number of conditions can be set for
the completion of the drill. The three passers can rotate
after a certain number of serves, for example 10. Rotation
can also be based on the number of good passes to the
Setter, for example 5. For skilled teams, the rotation of the
passers could be based on the number of good pass-set-hit
combinations. In any event, a new server does not start
until the passers have passed each position. With the new
server, the drill begins again.
Coaching Tip: The better the ability of a team to sideout
from serve/receive, the less likely it is to give up points.
Variation: The positions of the passers can be varied. The
drill could also be performed with LB and RB passers and
a LF hitter.
Variation: For an added challenge, Blockers can be added.

When to Use: This drill is for skilled teams. Beginning
teams can use the drill; however, the conditions for suc-
cess should not be too demanding. The best time to use
this drill is the middle to the end of practice.

Attack from Serve/Receive Drill
Purpose: Players need to think of the game in terms of
three distinct contacts. Players must execute two skills in
order to successfully execute the drill.
Description: The basic drill has three players, a Server, P1;
a passer/attacker, P2; and a Setter, S.
P1 serves to P2. P2 passes to the Setter and then moves
to attack. The Setter then sets P2. The drill should be per-
formed so that P2 is working to hit a specific set or types
of sets. The Setter and the Attacker must communicate at
all times in this drill.
Goal: The passer must execute a number of successful
pass–attack combinations before rotating out of the drill.
Variation: Blockers or a single Blocker can be added to the
drill.
Variation: The drill could also be performed with a front-
row player passing then attacking.
When to Use: This is a middle-to-end of practice drill. If
two courts are available, half the team could be doing this
drill on one court while the other half is doing another
drill on a different court.

Two-Passer Attack from
Serve/Receive
Purpose: The purpose of this drill is to coordinate play
and to work on communication among three players on
serve/reception.
Personnel: A minimum of four players is required.
Equipment: Full-court.
Description: One player, P1, serves. Two players, P2 and
P3, receive and attack. A Setter is also required to perform
this drill. When P2 passes, P3 attacks, or when P3 passes,
then P2 attacks. P2, P3, and the Setter communicate as to
the type of set.
Goal: The goal is a successful pass-attack combination.
Variation: Allow either person to set after the pass.
Variation: Make a front-row attacker with a back-row
passer.
Rotation: Players stay in the drill until a minimum number
of successful pass-attack combinations are completed.
When to Use: On its face, this drill is advance. It can be
used with beginning players, but reasonable criteria must
be made for determining success. This drill is a middle of
practice drill.

Five-on-Six Drill
Purpose: This drill provides practice in defense and transi-
tion to offense in a controlled situation.
Personnel: Eleven players and a coach.
Initiation of Play: The coach tosses a ball to one of the
players on the same side of the court.
Description: On one side of the net is a team of six in its
starting defensive position. On the other side of the net are
three Blockers, B; and players at LB and RB. Either the RF
or the RB should act as the Setter.
The drill begins when the coach tosses a ball to the
Setter, or to the 10-foot line to be attacked by the LB or RB.
The defending team digs the attack and transitions to
attack. The team of five defends against the attack of the
team of six.
If the team of five digs the ball, it plays the ball out. If
it does not dig the ball, the coach tosses a new ball as
before.
Play continues with the coach tossing or the team of
five playing the ball out.
Goals: The defending team can stay in a rotation for time,
until it makes a number of successful transition attacks, or
until it makes a number of consecutive successful attacks.
The drill can be competitive with the team of five and the
team of six each having a goal.
When to Use: The drill is for the end of practice.

Left-Side Attack vs. Left-Side
Defense Drill
Purpose: This drill is designed to practice on side of the
team defense.
Personnel: Nine players and a coach.
Initiation of Play: The coach tosses the ball to a Setter.
Description: On one side of the net is a line of three LF hit-
ters and a Setter, along with the coach. On the other side of
the net are three front-row Blockers, (Bs), and two back-
row players, (LB and RB).
The drill begins when the coach tosses a ball to the
Setter. The Setter sets an outside Attacker who attacks the
ball. The block is set to stop the Attacker’s cross-court
shot. The defenders move to dig the ball. The defense
works to dig the ball and run its transition attack.
After a kill the players return to their starting positions
and a new ball is tossed.
Rotation: The three Attackers alternate hitting. The group
stays in the drill for time, until a number of balls have
been attacked, or until a successful number of transition
plays have been run.
Scoring: The drill can be made competitive by having the
Attackers attempt to achieve a number of kills before the
defense achieves a number of transition attacks.
Variation: Allow a Middle Attacker work with the LF
Attackers. Variation: The drill can be run with RF
Attackers against RF Blockers.
When to Use: The drill is an end of practice drill.

Sideout/Down Ball/Free Ball Drill
Purpose: A six-on-six drill combining first ball sideout and
transition play.
Personnel: Full teams.
Initiation of Play: Server serves, coach hits a Down Ball,
then the coach tosses a Free Ball.
Explanation: One team is made the “featured team.” The
featured team receives all first balls. To win the drill, Team
“A” must successfully convert a sideout, and Down Ball,
and a Free Ball. The featured team gets two chances.
Team “B” can win when it stops team “A” from com-
pleting the above task twice in a row. Team “A” gets two
chances.
The ball is initiated by Team B with a serve. Secondly,
a coach attacks with control providing a Down Ball.
Thirdly, a coach tosses a Free Ball.
Goal: After either team wins a point that team rotates. The
first team to rotate six times or all the way around wins.
After one team wins, the teams switch roles.
Coaching Tip: The drill can be adjusted for lower levels by
controlling the serve and the successive two-ball tosses.
The drill exercises all aspects of the game.

Five-on-Five Bongo Drill
Purpose: Live defense, one-on-one blocking, transition
offense.
Equipment: Full court and five balls.
Personnel: A coach and ten players. Five-on-five. The five
players on a team play these positions: LB, MB, RB, RF, LF.
Basically, the five-on-five is like six-on-six real volleyball,
but without the Middle Blockers.
Initiation of Play: Five balls in all are sent to the one team.
The coach initiates the drill by hitting the balls.
Description: At the beginning, the coach hits one ball to
each player in the back-row. The first ball is hit by the
coach at the LB. The second is hit to the MB. The third is
hit to the RB player. The fourth ball is a pursuit ball. The
coach can throw the pursuit ball anywhere in the gym on
the pursuing team’s side. The fifth ball is served by the
opposing team.
After the initiation of play, the ball is passed to the
Setter at the RF. Then, the ball is set by the RF to the LF. A
standard team defense is played on each side. The rally is
played out.
Scoring: First, the coach hits the ball to Team A’s LB play-
er. If Team A wins the rally, then the coach hits the second
ball to Team A’s MB. If Team A wins the second rally, then
the coach hits the third ball to Team A’s RB. If Team A
wins the third rally, then the coach hits the fourth ball any-
where as a pursuit ball. If Team A wins the fourth rally,
then Team B serves to Team A. If Team A wins the fifth
and final rally, Team A scores one point. To earn a point, a
team must win five-straight rallies (3 from digs, 1 from a
pursuit and 1 from a serve/receive offense).
If Team A fails to win a rally in the sequence, it is not
Team B’s turn.

Rotation: Team B rotates before starting its sequence. If
Team B fails to complete the sequence of five victorious
rallies, Team A rotates, and it becomes their turn again.
Variation: The coach can chose whether or not to use the
Setter. If a Setter is used out of the back-row, the Setter
may set the LF or RF.
MB
2nd,
RB if 1st is won.
1st LB
4th, 3rd,
pursuit if others were won.
RF LF
PP
P CP
LF RF
LB RB
MB
Shows initiation of play. 5thP

Around the World Drill
Purpose: Serve/Receive Offense
Personnel: Twelve players. The drill is six-on-six, full
team, live play.
Initiation of Play: The serving team serves the ball to the
receiving team. This drill is “live play.”
Goal: The object of the drill is to rotate six times. The first
team to rotate around wins the drill.
Rotation: To rotate, the receiving team must side out. If the
receiving team makes a side out in Rotation 1, the receiv-
ing team rotates to Rotation 2 and receives serve again. As
long as the receiving team successfully sides out, it contin-
ues to rotate. After 6 straight side-outs, that team wins.
If the serving team prevents the receiving team from
siding out, (i.e., the serving team scores a point), the
receiving team now must make a decision. The receiving
team has two options.
Option 1: The receiving team can FREEZE. In this
option, the receiving team stays in the rotation it is in, and
becomes the serving team. The opponent now earns the
right to receive serve and can rotate as it completes a side
out in each rotation. When the receiving team is stopped,
i.e. prevented from siding out, it now has the option
choice. If that team decides to FREEZE, the team serves
from the rotation it FROZE in, and the original receiving
team starts in the rotation it left off in (where they
FROZE). Then the other team can continue in its six rota-
tion journey.

Option 2: The receiving team, upon being prevented
from siding out, can decide to do Option 2, instead of
Option 1. The second option is a decision to “CHANCE
IT.” In this option, the team is granted another chance to
side out in the rotation it just failed in. If the team suc-
ceeds on this second chance, it proceeds by rotating to the
next rotation and the drill continues. If the team fails after
deciding to “Chance it,” it must return to the beginning
(rotation 1), and automatically become the serving team.
The opponent now receives serve either where it left off (if
the team elected to freeze) or at the beginning if that team
chanced it and failed.
Neither team can elect to “Chance It” in the first rota-
tion at the start as there is nothing to risk if the team fails.
The team can decide to “Chance It” only after it has rotat-
ed at least once.
Variation: This drill can be made even between the two
teams quite easily. If the starters are on one side and the
non-starters are on the other, then the teams are probably
unbalanced. Require the starters to go nine-to-twelve rota-
tions opposed to the non-starters who would be required
to go six rotations.
Variation: The starters can be given only one opportunity
to elect to “Chance It.”

Four-on-Four Square Drill
Purpose: Game play, live defense, one-on-one
hitting/blocking, serve/receive.
Personnel: Two teams of four players each. The drill has
the following players on each side: RF, LF, LB, RB. This
drill eliminates the MF and MB players. The players
should play as they would in a six-on-six game.
Initiation of Play: The serving team serves the ball. Live
play.
Goal: Play a game to 15 points with regular and rally scor-
ing.
Description: The teams serve/receive with two or three
players patterns. The play is four-on-four, live play. The
Attackers can hit line or cross-court. The Blockers block to
protect the middle-back area.
Rotation: The teams can either “de-specialize” where who-
ever is in the RF position acts as the Setter, or “specialize”
by letting the Setter set all positions. When the Setter is in
the back-row, the set can penetrate and set LF or RF. When
the Setter is in the front-row, the Setter can set LF.

Serve/Receive Team
RB
LB
RF
LF
LF
RF
LB
Block protects the middle.

RB
P

Sequence Drill
Purpose: Play six-on-six and emphasize late-game pres-
sure and finishing the game.
Personnel: Six-on-six, live play. Assign one coach to each
team. Assign a referee.
Equipment: Full court, ball, and each team gets one time-
out per sequence. A score sheet of the chart shown below
would help for easy reference.
Goal: The object of the drill is to complete the sequence of
10. The first team to complete the sequence of 10 wins.
Play: One team at a time comes up to bat and is the team
on the hot seat. The opposition team plays as the spoiler.
The team on the hot seat can either win its sequence and
advance to the next sequence, or it can have its sequence
spoiled. After a sequence is spoiled, the spoiler team
moves to the hot seat role as the two teams switch from
spoilers to hot seat.
The sequence of 10 has 10 different stages to score a
victory. Each stage is a mini-game with the score and serv-
ing team established by the following chart. When the
stage is set for each stage in the scoring sequence, the team
that is in the hot seat is listed in Bold. The team with the
serve is noted with a *.

Hot Seat Team Spoilers
Stages:
Stage 1: 13* - 11
Stage 2: 13 - 13*
Stage 3: 12 - 13* Rally Score
Stage 4: 12 - 14*
Stage 5: 15* - 15
Stage 6: 10* - 10 Rally Score
Stage 7: 11 - 13*
Stage 8: 15 - 15* Rally Score
Stage 9: 11* - 12
Stage 10: 10* - 12
When to Use: Use this sequence when there is plenty of
time.

Vortex Drill
Purpose: Live play, six-on-six. Free ball offense, condition-
ing.
Personnel: Full teams, six-on-six with a coach to throw free
balls.
Equipment: Scoreboard, full-court.
Initiation of Play: The coach throws a free ball into the
court of the scoring team from the opposite side of the net.
Scoring: Only the team that receives a free ball can score a
point on that rally. For example, Team A receives the free
ball and the rally is played out. If Team A wins the rally, it
gets a point on the scoreboard. Team A then immediately
receives another free ball from the coach. Every time a
team wins a rally from which it received the initial free
ball, that team gets a point and receives another free ball.
If Team B wins the rally on which Team A got the free
ball, then Team B put a stop to Team A’s run and then
Team B gets the chance to receive the next free ball, and
possibly score a point if it wins the following rally.
Goal: The first team to 30 points wins.
Rotation: After game 1 ends, both teams rotate and game
two starts at a score of 0–0.
Variation: If the game score is tied 3-to-3 after six games
have been played, each team chooses its one rotation for
the tie breaker.
Variation: In the tie-breaker game, the coach can choose
the rotation set-up for each team.
Variation: In the tie-breaker game, the teams can rotate
each time before it begins to receive free balls.

Balancing teams: When playing with unbalanced teams,
require the starters to play to 30 points and the non-
starters to win at 20 points.

Perpetual Serve/Receive
(Short-Deep) Drill
Purpose: Serve/Receive and conditioning.
Initiation of Play: Live serving.
Personnel: Six or more players.
Equipment: Full-court and plenty of balls.
Rotation: The servers serve, then run to the opposite side
of the net to the on-deck passing position. The players
move from the on-deck passing position into one of the
three positions on the court to play serve/receive. The
player who passes the ball then becomes the Target. The
Target retrieves the pass wherever it may go. Then the
Targets proceed to the serving position on the same side of
the net.
Description: A RB sends a served ball over the net to three
defensive players in the serve/receive position. If a serve
is missed, the RB gets a ball from the cart while the next
server steps up and serves. This change of order among
the players at missed serves results in different combina-
tions of servers against receivers.
Goal: The end of the drill is based upon time, number of
passes or until the balls run out.
Coaching Tip: This serving drill gets the servers to concen-
trate on control to specific areas rather than maximum
toughness of serve.

S3 P
S4 P
MB
LB W1
RB
T
T
W2 LB RB
MB
P S2 P
S1

Block-Pass-Hit-Shag Drill
Purpose: For Blockers to work against live Attackers.
Attackers focus on hitting control. The Passers and the
Setter gets plenty of repetitions.
Personnel: Twelve players are preferred.
Goal: The drill is run on time or number of balls.
Rotation: Players rotate by group. The groups transfer
from one activity to the next all at the same time. The pro-
gression order is Block, Pass, Hit, Shag, (hence the title of
the drill).
Passers: Two passers are on the court and one passer is on-
deck. The on-deck passer enters the drill and replaces the
player who just passed the most recent ball.
Hitters: The Attackers hit on the left side, then run around
the back of the Attacker’s own court to the other side.
Then the Attacker hits right.
Setter: One Setter is used, placed between the Attackers.
The Setter must continually alternate sets to the left side,
then to the right side, and back again.
Blockers: The outside Blockers stay in position. The
Middle Blocker blocks left side attack then right side. Then
the Middle Blocker switches with a designated Blocker
chosen from the shag group. Blockers are to work against
live Attackers.

WD
RB LB
WA
RF LF
B S
B B B
PC
R R

One vs. One Drill
Purpose: To force a competitive situation when players
know they have to hit and block until one person wins.
Time Allotted: 20-30 minutes.
Goal: The drill runs as a wash to three points.
Equipment: Full court and two balls.
Personnel: Twelve players.
Initiation of Play: The coaches uses his or her normal
“Wash” initiation.
Description: Two players play against each other on differ-
ent sides of the net. Each team has six players on the court
and all balls are delivered by the teams to the couple at the
designated area along the net for attacks.
When to Use: Use the drill in the middle of practice as this
drill involves a fair amount of time if you have the MF
play against each other as well as the various combina-
tions of outside Attackers.

Reading List
The Sports Support Syndicate sells other books on
the great sport of volleyball. Three other books were
published in past years in cooperation with The
Sports Group. Make your reading complete. Get
these books for your library:
Volleyball Tips for the 90s, 1991, $1695
Volleyball Notes, 1992, $1700
Gold Medal Volleyball, 1993, $1600
A long list of additional volleyball books have
been on the drawing board for quite some time. To
date, the only other book on volleyball published by
the SSS is,The Volleyball Cadre* Collection in associa-
tion with the USVBA, 1991, $1600.
The Sports Support Syndicate publishes books,
audio tapes, videos and computer software for cut-
ting-edge sports participants. Every title from the SSS
features the authors’ personality. The pages of these
books always highlight tactical messages with plenty
of hands-on advice.
Subjects range from age-group swimming, water
polo, master swimming, exercise, weightlifting,
sports psychology, cross-country cycling, and of
course, volleyball. Get a catalog of our titles.
Sports Support Syndicate Inc.
108 South 12th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203-1226 USA
office: 412-481-2497
fax: 412-481-2497
http://www.SportSurf.Net
internet e-mail: MRauterkus@SportsReader.Com

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Volleyball Clinic Staff

Coaching Staff of the

9 781 878 602886

The authors include:

Andy Banachowski, Doug Beal,

The Sports Group Inc.

Volleyball Drills page 1

© 1994 by The Sports Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Sports Group Inc.

For permission for re-print, reviews, and research,

Sports Support Syndicate

The drills developed by Al Scates are from Winning Volleyball

Cover photo and page 6 photo by Don West Fotografiks, PO Box

The authors, publisher, and sponsors of this book assume no lia-

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5th 3rd & 4th

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by the net and two

endline and react to

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Block and Set Drill

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